Former Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne has declared his 2009 grand final side was \u201ccheated\u201d by Melbourne, with the Storm\u2019s infamous salary cap scandal once again thrust into the spotlight this week.<\/p>\n
With the 2025 finals series looming, reigning premiers the Panthers have been resigned to a finish outside the top-four, sparking conversation regarding whether they win yet another premiership without the double chance.<\/p>\n
In a graphic on social media, \u2018The Cast Patrol\u2019 podcast posted that only eight teams have made the grand final from outside the top four in the NRL era.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n It prompted a stern response from Hayne, who was a member of the 2009 Eels team that lost 23-16 to the Storm in the decider after a surge from eighth spot, powered by their superstar fullback\u2019s Dally M Medal-winning form.<\/p>\n \u201cOne team didn\u2019t lose,\u201d Hayne wrote on his verified Facebook account.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were cheated. Plz (sic) get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n Hayne\u2019s response comes after several examples emerged that showed the Storm still claimed their 2007 and 2009 premierships as legitimate titles.<\/p>\n Jarryd Hayne responds to a social media post.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n In early August, a photo emerged of the Melbourne club displaying their premiership trophies from those years at AAMI Park, which were stripped by the NRL.<\/p>\n In 2010, the Storm were found to have breached the salary cap, paying players around $3.7 million more than available across a five-season period.<\/p>\n Their premierships during that period were deemed to be unrecognised by the NRL, and at the time the photo emerged veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield had his say.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone sent me a photo from AAMI Park the other night,\u201d he said on Triple M.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have all these premiership winning trophies near where the players come onto the field \u2014 99, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cSix grand final wins but only four premierships. 2007 and 2009 were taken off them. I don\u2019t think those two trophies they were stripped of for salary cap cheating should be displayed.\u201d<\/p>\n Walsh bizarrely indulges in toilet water | 00:18<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n CRAWLS: Ciraldo\u2019s awkward dilemma after legend\u2019s No.9 call; Teddy\u2019s Dally M threat<\/a><\/p>\n TEAM TIPS: Ivan\u2019s cryptic reply as resting furore set to reignite; Ciraldo\u2019s Dogs hint<\/a><\/p>\n