Warriors docked points and fined

The New Zealand Warriors have been penalised four NRL competition points as the drama of the salary cap breach reached a conclusion today.

The Warriors were accused of going over the NRL salary cap by as much as $1 million in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In particular, the signings of Steve Price from the Bulldogs and Ruben Wiki from the Raiders coming under scrutiny during the investigation.

The Warriors put their case forward to the NRL this afternoon. But they were docked four points and issued with a fine of $430,000. The Warriors have also had their salary cap spending capacity for 2007 reduced.

NRL chief executive David Gallop [pictured] says the League are determined to make a stand against any club found to be rorting the salary cap.

The Warriors will now begin the 2006 NRL season on minus four points. Its understood this is the first time a team has been stripped of points prior to the season kicking off.

The NRL was made aware of the possible breach late last season when former Warriors' chief executive Mick Watson and his administration were set to be replaced.

In a press statement, the NRL says the punishment was mitigated to some extent by the transparent actions of the current Warriors' administration, which did not take part in any of the issues under investigation, and cooperated fully with the NRL. In addition, the Warriors will have five days in which to make formal submissions in regard to the proposed penalty.

In 2002, Gallop was in charge of the NRL when the Canterbury Bulldogs were stripped of 37 competition points and fined $500,000 for exceeding the cap over several seasons.