Leeds could profit from Melbourne scandal

Players from Super League champions Leeds Rhinos could land a £50,000 windfall as a result of the salary-cap scandal involving Melbourne Storm.

The National Rugby League (NRL) have stripped the Storm of their 2007 and 2009 premiership titles after they were found guilty of systematic salary cap cheating worth £1.02million over the past five years. The governing body also ruled the club will accumulate no competition points for the entire 2010 season and hit them with £1m in fines and returned prize money.

The prize fund includes £50,000 Melbourne collected for beating Leeds 18-10 in the Gillette World Club Challenge at Elland Road in February and that money could now go to the Super League club.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington, who before the match had promised to share the prize money between the players, said: "In light of the decision to order Melbourne to forfeit all prize money, it's an issue for the RFL to take up.

"What Thursday's announcement does do is elevate the achievement of Leeds Rhinos.

"Melbourne have been without doubt the best team in the NRL for the last few years and we can see why. We beat them in 2008 and lost narrowly this year.

"Over the two games we came out on equal terms and, with the advantage Melbourne clearly had, it shows it was an even bigger achievement by the Leeds Rhinos and also by Super League."

A spokesman for the RFL said: "The board of directors are aware of the developments and will be considering the consequences."

Hetherington added that Leeds would not be seeking to be awarded Melbourne's 2010 world crown.