Eels able to play for competition points amid legal battle

The NRL made the announcement on Friday, though the governing body will "determine whether those points are retained in its final determination".

On Tuesday, the Eels were stripped of all their competition points - 12 - and fined one million Australian dollars, with 250,000 AUD potentially suspended, after the NRL found Parramatta had breached the cap in five of the past six years, using a system designed to cheat.

"As we said from the outset, this is a preliminary decision and the club now has an opportunity to respond," an NRL spokesman said in a statement.

"Once the club's response is considered, the NRL will make a final determination on the penalty which may be the same or it may change.

"It is important to note that no final decision has been made.

"The club can accrue points while the breach process is ongoing but the NRL will determine whether those points are retained in its final determination.

"As we have said before, if the club gets under the salary cap in the meantime that will be a material consideration."