NRL: Ex-stars react to salary shock

NRL coaches and former stars have registered their shock after it was revealed yesterday that the Melbourne Storm had cheated on its salary cap rules and retained top players through elaborate clandestine funding schemes.

The team has been stripped of two championships and penalised NZ$2 million, partly in fines and partly to pay back prize money.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy delivered the news to his side prior to last night's announcement by the NRL.

In a statement released by the club last night, Bellamy said "this is an absolute shock to myself, to our football staff, to our players."

"Personally I am heartbroken."

Media reports suggest the players are in no position to talk.

Former Australian test star and Storm foundation player Mark Geyer said the salary cap rort will be the death knell for rugby league in Melbourne.

"If you tried to predict a scenario, I would say that within 12 months you'll see a team on the central coast which will have many of the Melbourne Storm players in it."

Geyer would be happy to see the Storm disappear completely.

"When you're dealing with cheats and thieves, they conceal everything they can, for as long as they can. And that's what Melbourne are - they're a bunch of frauds."

Geyer's brother - and foundation Storm player - Matt Geyer attacked the NRL's treatment of the club.

Speaking on ABC Australia's AM radio show, the 11-season Storm veteran said he couldn't sit on the fence about the issue.

"I think it is too harsh."

"We just played footy. We got paid. If you are getting paid each week, each month whatever it is, whenever the money goes in, you don't check where it is coming from," he said.

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes told AAP he expected the Storm would bounce back from the drama, noting that his side were docked 37 competition points in 2002 for salary cap breaches before rallying to win the premiership in 2004.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE