Storm scandal: Bellamy vows not to surrender

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy is vowing to fight on, and has urged fans to stick with the club despite the salary cap scandal. Photo / Getty Images

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has vowed to rebuild the shattered club, and welcomed the NRL's continued investigation into the salary cap rorting which shocked Australian sport.

The scandal grew deeper as new documents detailing illegal payments to three Storm players were revealed today.

The files, which relate to payments disguised as third-party sponsorship deals, were given to News Ltd by the club's former acting chief executive, Matt Hanson.

News Ltd director of corporate affairs Greg Baxter said the documents had been forwarded to the NRL's salary cap auditor, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In a prepared statement read before media at the Storm's soon-to-be new home at Melbourne's rectangular stadium, AAMI Park, Bellamy said the 48 hours since the NRL hit the club with heavy penalties for salary cap breaches - including stripping them of their two premierships - was the toughest of his and his players' sporting lives.

With his players standing behind him, Bellamy said he would not walk away from the club and urged fans not to either.

But he said he welcomed the NRL's continued probe into the club after it was revealed the Storm had been involved with long-term salary cap breaches involving clandestine player payments.

"The two things they can never take away are our dignity and our integrity," Bellamy said before refusing to answer media questions.

"We know we will be investigated. We welcome that.

"I love this club. I love these players. These players love our club. This is a great club, a strong club, a very proud club.

"This is why we stand here today united. We aren't going anywhere. We ain't going to surrender."

On Thursday, the Storm had their two premiership wins in 2007 and 2009 stripped, told to pay back $1.1 million prizemoney, and fined another $500,000 for the breaches.

The club also will play the rest of the NRL season for no premiership points, starting with Sunday's match against the Warriors at Etihad Stadium.

Less than 30 minutes later, Storm players emerged for training at the new stadium to be greeted by thousands of cheering club supporters.

Several hundred Storm members were at AAMI Park for a members' familiarisation session at the venue.

But many more fans turned up at the new stadium and were allowed in, helping turn the occasion into an impromptu supporters' rally for the embattled club.

In moving scenes, fans cheered wildly and gave the players a standing ovation - the players shaking hands and signing autographs for fans ahead of a training session in which their every move was cheered.

- AAP