SYDNEY - The Auckland Warriors would be in a stronger financial position than any other National Rugby League club this season if fullback Matthew Ridge's contract was terminated, Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen said yesterday.
Warriors management have been in negotiation with the highly-paid fullback in recent weeks and Ridge seems
certain to leave the club prior to the upcoming season, although McKewen refused to forecast that scenario.
However, he said Ridge's absence would provide a significant boost to the Auckland club's coffers.
"If our negotiations with Matthew conclude in a way that he doesn't play out the last year of his contract, we'll be significantly under the salary cap, perhaps in the strongest position of any club in the competition," said McKewen, who ironically attended an NRL meeting to discuss the salary cap here yesterday.
McKewen said the fact that yesterday's meeting of club chief executive officers was called made it clear the NRL weren't convinced all clubs were abiding by the $A3.25 million ($4.18 million) cap.
However, he said it wasn't an issue with the Warriors, who had made the "tough decisions" of releasing stars Quentin Pongia and Stephen Kearney, terminating Gene Ngamu's contract at its mid-point and not renewing the contracts of Kiwi internationals like Syd Eru and Sean Hoppe.
"In many cases they've been painful decisions that had to be made to ensure the solvency of the club and honour the commitment of getting below the salary cap," McKewen said.
"Some clubs have done it faster than others and made tougher decisions. Obviously if some clubs aren't [obeying the salary cap], it creates an uneven playing field and dissension."
- NZPA
