BPL citizen journalist Brett Hamilton thinks NRL chief executive David Gallop got it right with the punishment handed down to the salary-cap cheating Melbourne Storm.

I'll admit it - I think David Gallop has got this one right!

Wave after wave of so called experts calling for the Storm to sit out the year, stripped back to a compliant outfit or just punted completely. Our game certainly fires up the passion within, but let's not be blinded from the bigger picture. Let's deal in reality for moment.

The competition has already begun. The Melbourne Storm have already played six games - winning four and losing two. Some teams face the Storm once others twice.

You sit the Storm out and you effectively give some teams two extra byes and others one! Manly and the Gold Coast's early season victories over the Storm then mean nothing. You force the Storm to sell off players and things get more complicated. As well as the dilemma with the games already decided we now need to find a home for the displaced players. Sure the Storm could foot the bill, but you just know the players will end up at Bondi, Manly or maybe joining Rusty's crew at Redfern.

Let's think about the players for a minute. If the Storm are booted, what happens to the representative season? Can you imagine a State of Origin Season in 2010 with no Billy Slater, no Greg Inglis, no Cameron Smith? If they are victims of the rort, how do we possibly justify that kind of punishment?

I challenge those that say playing for no premiership points is not an option. As well as pressing representative claims, many players are competing for a 2011 contract. Their performance in 2011 will determine if they have a career in the game or not.

The reality is that many players will be looking for a new home and a lifeline, so don't tell me that is not enough incentive. As a lifelong Sharks supporter I've been out to Shark Park knowing that a win or loss will not matter as the semi-final series was already out of reach. I still went out, still cheered on my side, and still enjoyed every one of those victories. Sure the Storm supporters will be gutted and disillusioned but don't tell me a true supporter won't stick solid.

Ask yourself If this was your team would you want this to be the end of them? And don't try and tell me that the Storm players won't be driven by that.

Finally let's not forget the commercial reality. The days of a Sydney competition are gone and to survive in the most competitive sporting environment in the world, rugby league needs a compelling and national product. Melbourne helps deliver this.

Congratulations David Gallop - you have taken a balanced approach with both the short term and long term interests of the game in mind. Long live rugby league!

Brett Hamilton is 37, follows the Sharks and lives in Sydney.