NRL: Players have nothing to hide - Smith

Smith admits signing two contracts but denies any knowledge of extra payments to the Melbourne Storm players. Photo / Getty Images

Embattled Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith yesterday pleaded innocence and ignorance when quizzed on the National Rugby League club's salary cap scandal.

While the Storm players refused to co-operate with an investigation that last week revealed the club breached the cap by A$3.25 million ($4 million) between 2006-2010, Smith's weekly radio slot with a Sydney-based network ensured he faced some difficult questions.

One of the Storms so-called "Fab Four", and among 13 past and current players found to have received extra payments following a probe by accountant's Deloitte, Smith sounded edgy as he was grilled on the radio.

He admitted signing two contracts, a method Deloitte said the club used to disguise additional payments, but insisted they were for the same value.

"The two contracts they talk about, the first one was an agreement that I was going to stay at the Storm, the second one was my NRL contract," he said.

"Both of the contracts are the same thing. I was always of the understanding the contract I signed was always going to be under the salary cap.

"At no time was I told there were going to be payments outside the cap, we all know that's illegal."

Smith was assured by his manager Isaac Moses that contractual arrangements were above board.

The Player Agent Accreditation Committee will investigate the conduct of Moses and Allan Gainey, agent of Storm superstar Greg Inglis, as the fallout from the scandal continues.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Gainey and Moses could be removed as accredited NRL agents if the findings, due next month, are unfavourable.

Like Smith, Inglis also signed two contracts.

Gainey, who is negotiating a deal for Inglis to move to the Brisbane Broncos, refused to comment while Moses said: "We have been cleared by Deloitte. Everything is fine."

Smith said players would have been willing to be interviewed by Deloitte, after they initially refused, but they were never asked a second time.

He said his teammates had "nothing to hide" and were disappointed "people think we have knowledge of the things that went on".

Meanwhile, the Storm player exodus is under way with Brett Finch, Ryan Hoffman and former Kiwis prop Jeff Lima headed to English Super League club Wigan at the end of the NRL season.

Prop Ryan Tandy has already joined the Bulldogs and will be joined by Aiden Tolman in 2011.

The futures of Kiwis vice-captain Adam Blair and test second rower Sika Manu are yet to be determined.

- NZPA