The National Rugby League (NRL) has issued show cause notices to two player agents, Mario Tartak and Matthew Desira, prompting potential suspensions and fines for breaches of the accredited agent scheme rules.
Mario Tartak, director of Crown Sports Management, faces significant penalties, including a proposed 12-month suspension and a fine of $25,000. The allegations against Tartak include communicating with an underage player without the presence of a parent or legal guardian and entering into a commercial arrangement with two NRL clubs, actions deemed violations of the accredited agent guidelines. This proposed penalty takes into account prior breach proceedings where conditions were laid out, indicating that any further violations could lead to loss of accreditation.
Tartak represents notable players such as Josh Schuster, Damien Cook, and Josh Addo-Carr.
Matthew Desira, who heads Aria Management Group, has been proposed a six-month suspension paired with a $10,000 fine. His breach notice stems from issues of non-reporting and dishonesty related to police charges and court proceedings against him. The NRL highlighted that accredited agents are expected to uphold high personal and professional standards under the agents’ code of conduct.
Both agents have a window of five business days to respond to the notices. Desira’s client list includes players like Jayden Campbell, Greg Marzhew, and Bronson Xerri, and he previously managed Benji Marshall throughout his playing career.
The outcomes of these proceedings could have significant implications for the careers of both agents and their clients within the NRL framework.