* 13 players involved in improper payments; 7 current, 6 former
* 'No evidence' players knew of rort
* Moodie and other board members sacked
* Deloitte findings 'handed to police'
In another extraordinary day in NRL history, directors have been sacked, players named and the exact sum of the salary cap breach has been specified.
Melbourne Storm's salary cap breaches are significantly higher than the amount the NRL originally predicted, News Limited chief executive John Hartigan confirmed today.
An audit commissioned by Storm owners News and conducted by accounting firm Deloitte has concluded the NRL club's breaches tallied A$3.17 million ($3.88 million) from 2006 until the end of this season.
Original predictions of the breaches were about A$1.7m.
Hartigan said the Storm was almost A$1m over the cap in the 2010 season alone.
He said the club had no choice but to accept the harsh penalties imposed by the NRL, which included the stripping of two premierships and forcing the club to play for no points this season.
"Sadly the severe penalties handed down by the NRL ... are in my opinion warranted," Hartigan said.
"... The actions of a few in the club has stripped it of premierships."
Hartigan said the findings of the report would be referred to police.
"Is it fraud? That's something for the police to decide," he said.
Hartigan announced sweeping changes to the board, including the sacking of chairman Rob Moodie and fellow independent directors Petra Fawcett, Peter Maher and Gerry Ryan.
Stephen Rue was appointed to the board alongside Craig Watt and Frank Stanton, the acting chief executive.
Hartigan said the report found 13 Storm players - including seven current members of the squad - had received payments or benefits from third parties that fell outside the cap.
He said there was no evidence to suggest the players knew the payments could contribute to the club breaching the salary cap.
The players were Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Anthony Quinn and Brett White and former players Dallas Johnson, Will Chambers, Mick Crocker, Matt Geyer, Steve Turner and Antonio Kaufusi.
Hartigan was critical that none of the players were willing to assist with the investigation.
"No evidence was found that these players or their managers and agents knew that these third party payments and benefits could contribute to a breach of the salary cap," he said.
"Regrettably not one of the players agreed to co-operate with the investigation ... in my view it's totally unacceptable.
"I'm pleased to confirm that (coach) Craig Bellamy did co-operate with News Ltd's investigators."
- AAP
