Collingwood AFL President Eddie McGuire has accused the NRL of destroying the future of Melbourne Storm with its penalties against the club for salary cap breaches.

The Storm have been stripped of the premierships they won against Manly and Parramatta in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

They have also been hit with $1.6 million in fines, and unable to accrue any further points this season as well as having their points earned to date deducted.

McGuire said the penalties would destroy the future of rugby league in Melbourne.

"Down here in Melbourne people are saying ... `well and good, go after salary cap cheats', but this is blowing up not only the competition but the team and the future of rugby league," the AFL club president and media identity told the Nine Network on Friday.

"What is going on?

"This is a team that's been blown up just as they were starting to get some real impetus in this town and it's gone."

McGuire said Melbourne Storm fans had been contacting his commercial radio program wondering what would happen to their $800 season tickets.

Brian Waldron quit his post at the Melbourne Storm last year to take charge of the Rebels, who are due to enter the new Super 15 rugby union competition in 2011.

The AFL will investigate whether salary cap rules were followed at St Kilda during the time Waldron was chief executive officer at the club.

In the AFL, clubs in developing markets are granted salary cap extensions to be able to recruit and retain players.

"In many ways people are pointing the bone at the Melbourne Storm and tut-tutting, yet at the same time this is happening in various codes right around the country," McGuire said.

He questioned how the NRL would deal with the player agents involved in the salary deals.

"If you're going to clean it up you've got to go the whole way," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP