Storm scandal: Uncovering the rort

Cameron Smith. Photo / Getty Images

TIMELINE

MARCH 27
NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert raises concerns over payments to Storm players, including a third-party deal between skipper Cameron Smith and Fox Sports. NRL boss David Gallop announces a team will fly to Melbourne to review the Storm's books.

APRIL 13
Melbourne Storm chairman Rob Moodie and board become aware of salary cap rorting and launch internal investigation.

APRIL 21
Chief executive Matt Hanson, director Craig Watt and chairman Rob Moodie issued with legal letter detailing accusation against the Storm and summoning them to a meeting at NRL headquarters.

APRIL 22
9am: Bookmakers begin suspending wooden spoon markets after a number of bets are placed on Storm at 250-1 with single payouts in the tens of thousands of dollars.

11am: Storm bosses meet NRL boss David Gallop, chief operating officer Graham Annesley and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.

2pm: CEO Matt Hanson resigns.

4pm: Gallop announces the Storm have rorted the salary cap by at least $A1.7 million ($NZ2.2 million) over five years.

Storm stripped of their two premierships, three minor premierships and any competition points earned in 2010

They are fined $A500,000 and will be forced to return $A11 million in prizemoney.

News Limited boss John Hartigan says the Storm engaged in highly-orchestrated, deeply deceptive fraud of which former CEO Brian Waldron was the "architect".

APRIL 23
8am: Former Storm boss Brian Waldron resigns as Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby CEO after phone call with chairman Harold Mitchell.

11am: Storm chairman Rob Moodie announces he offered his resignation but owners News Limited did not accept.

11.30am: Major sponsor ME Bank pulls out.

1.30pm: Major sponsor HOSTPLUS also terminates agreement.

2.30pm: Melbourne former financial controller Cameron Vale claims he isn't the whistle-blower who tipped off the NRL.