The National Rugby League has imposed a record 60-thousand dollar fine on the Melbourne Storm for comments made by coach Craig Bellamy and chief executive Brian Waldron following their team's 28-0 preliminary final win over Cronulla last night.
NRL chief executive David Gallop described the remarks by Bellamy and Waldron as an unprecedented premeditated attack on the NRL and its judiciary system.
The fine is an NRL record amount handed out to a club for commenting on the game.
Bellamy unleashed a scathing attack on the code's administration over their handling of Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith's grapple tackle suspension, saying that he didn't think Cameron Smith got a fair go.
He says the media conference, was hijacked by some of you guys in the media that had him hung out to dry straight away and then it continued for four or five days.
While Bellamy later backed down from some of his controversial comments, he remained adamant Smith had not received a fair go.
Waldron was critical of the system which allowed Sharks coach Ricky Stuart to make comments about Smith's tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday, as he was adamant those words influenced the judiciary.
He says opposition coaches, opposition officials, other officials in positions of responsibility of the game should not be commenting before the judiciary.
Waldron says it doesn't happen in other sports ... it questions the integrity of our game at the core and we need some leadership to fix it.
