New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary today expressed shock at the news that the Melbourne Storm have systematically cheated the National Rugby League's salary cap rules over the past five years.
Cleary was speaking at Auckland Airport before the Warriors boarded their flight to Melbourne where they play the Stormon Sunday.
"Obviously it is a big surprise and a big shock," he said.
"It's disappointing. It's very damaging to the game."
Among the punishments handed out by the NRL is that Melbourne have been fined A$1.6 million ($2.09 million) and will get no points for any wins this season.
However, Cleary said he was expecting a typically difficult match against the Storm.
"Every time you play against the Storm, you get ready for an extremely tough game.
"They are a good football team and I'm expecting nothing less this week."
He said the Warriors' preparations would not change, although he acknowledged the sudden huge increase in media attention on his team, being the Storm's next opponents.
"We've got a game, and a big game, against extremely good opponents and we will remain focused on that."
The Warriors were also hit by a salary cap penalty at the start of Cleary's first year as coach in 2006.
Those salary cap infringements occurred under the previous club management and resulted in the Warriors being docked four points.
Cleary could not offer any insight into how the Storm players might be feeling, because the scale of the two cases were so different.
"I don't think you can make any sort of reference to any other thing that has happened," he said.
"It's one of those stories that comes out once a generation. I don't have any idea how they feel. I don't have any information on what happened."
Cleary also said he would not comment on issues such as whether the salary cap was working or how he saw the Storm's future as an NRL club.
"It's so near to a game and a big game that all I am focusing on at the moment is playing this game," he said.
"Obviously as time goes on, we will all think about it a bit more. I suppose there will be a lot more things that come out in the next few days. All I am worrying about is getting on the plane, going over there and having a good game."
