SECURITY TO AAMI PARK PLZ GALLOPS ON HIS WAY
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:28 am
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6107004465
David Gallop to end Melbourne Storm standoff
ONE of the game's longest-running standoffs is about to come to an end with David Gallop planning to attend his first Melbourne Storm home game since the NRL punished the club for breaching the salary cap in April last year.
The Storm is sitting on top of the table, four points clear of the competition following its come-from-behind win against Parramatta on Monday night, and is well on track to claiming the minor premiership.
It would be sweet revenge for the club that was punished severely last year by the NRL for systematically cheating the salary cap.
The penalties included the loss of two premierships and preventing the club from playing for competition points.
While Gallop has been to Melbourne and addressed the players since the penalties were handed down, it is understood he hasn't attended a home match. It is believed he is planning to attend either the round 24 blockbuster against St George Illawarra or the Storm's first home final.
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"I haven't been to a home game, but I imagine I will before the finals," Gallop said yesterday.
"Obviously, I run into their players regularly during Origin and other games.
"I think as time goes by the people at the club fully understand that the NRL reacted in the only way it could to what was found down there."
At the height of the scandal, it was reported both the players and officials at the club felt as if the NRL had abandoned them and had been too severe with the penalties. Fans also vented their fury, some even purchasing T-shirts with an offensive "*lima lima lima duck* Gallop" slogan.
However, Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said yesterday Gallop and any other NRL officials were always welcome at Storm games.
"I think it's fantastic, it's good to see," Gauci said of a Gallop visit.
"I think at the time our fans had issues with a lot of things, but I do believe that we've invested a lot of time to galvanise the club and its supporter base to get everyone behind the key things that we stand for.
"And we think our supporters have been great and they've responded well and it's great to see them enjoy the success the club is now having."
The Storm was forced to shed several of its high-profile players to get under the salary cap for this year, with Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Aiden Tolman and Brett Finch moving on.
The club's success this season has been built on several no-name recruits, including Adam Woolnough and Maurice Blair, as well as emerging stars Gareth Widdop and Jesse Bromwich.
Coach Craig Bellamy has also played a major role in maintaining the club's culture and is a favourite to be crowned Dally M coach of the year next month.
"We don't focus on answering critics," Gauci said.
"As far as we're concerned we had a lot of changes on and off the field and we've said all along that we want to get the right people into the club on and off the field and we want to do the best we can.
"If the best we can results in success, then we take it.
"If it actually gets us further, even gets us a potential premiership, it's all because of the culture of the club."
David Gallop to end Melbourne Storm standoff
ONE of the game's longest-running standoffs is about to come to an end with David Gallop planning to attend his first Melbourne Storm home game since the NRL punished the club for breaching the salary cap in April last year.
The Storm is sitting on top of the table, four points clear of the competition following its come-from-behind win against Parramatta on Monday night, and is well on track to claiming the minor premiership.
It would be sweet revenge for the club that was punished severely last year by the NRL for systematically cheating the salary cap.
The penalties included the loss of two premierships and preventing the club from playing for competition points.
While Gallop has been to Melbourne and addressed the players since the penalties were handed down, it is understood he hasn't attended a home match. It is believed he is planning to attend either the round 24 blockbuster against St George Illawarra or the Storm's first home final.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"I haven't been to a home game, but I imagine I will before the finals," Gallop said yesterday.
"Obviously, I run into their players regularly during Origin and other games.
"I think as time goes by the people at the club fully understand that the NRL reacted in the only way it could to what was found down there."
At the height of the scandal, it was reported both the players and officials at the club felt as if the NRL had abandoned them and had been too severe with the penalties. Fans also vented their fury, some even purchasing T-shirts with an offensive "*lima lima lima duck* Gallop" slogan.
However, Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said yesterday Gallop and any other NRL officials were always welcome at Storm games.
"I think it's fantastic, it's good to see," Gauci said of a Gallop visit.
"I think at the time our fans had issues with a lot of things, but I do believe that we've invested a lot of time to galvanise the club and its supporter base to get everyone behind the key things that we stand for.
"And we think our supporters have been great and they've responded well and it's great to see them enjoy the success the club is now having."
The Storm was forced to shed several of its high-profile players to get under the salary cap for this year, with Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Aiden Tolman and Brett Finch moving on.
The club's success this season has been built on several no-name recruits, including Adam Woolnough and Maurice Blair, as well as emerging stars Gareth Widdop and Jesse Bromwich.
Coach Craig Bellamy has also played a major role in maintaining the club's culture and is a favourite to be crowned Dally M coach of the year next month.
"We don't focus on answering critics," Gauci said.
"As far as we're concerned we had a lot of changes on and off the field and we've said all along that we want to get the right people into the club on and off the field and we want to do the best we can.
"If the best we can results in success, then we take it.
"If it actually gets us further, even gets us a potential premiership, it's all because of the culture of the club."