$150,000 salary cap fine adds to Cronulla Sharks' woes Cronulla Sharks were the club worst hit by NRL salary cap breach notices on Friday. A FAILURE to properly declare third-party player payments deepened Cronulla's financial misery by a further $150,000 on Friday. Of the seven clubs that were slapped with salary cap breach notices, the battling Sharks were hardest hit after an NRL investigation discovered a series of incorrect declarations across 2010, 2011 and 2012. And having spent more than $500,000 in legal fees handling the ASADA crisis, they can least afford it. The inquiry began after salary cap auditor Ian Schubert was alerted to sponsorship of a player by the club's former venue security firm, e-Group, in March. It's understood e-Group paid the player $80,000 over two years in the belief the sponsorship would be properly declared. While NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle declined to comment on specific circumstances, Schubert and his team discovered further and separate discrepancies when they started investigating. The Sharks yesterday posted a statement vowing to "ensure complete compliance going forward." "These matters relate to confusion regarding the application of third-party arrangements and marquee player allowances," the statement read. When the club became aware of the issues we immediately contacted the NRL to alert them to the problems. A number of meetings were held with the NRL to fully resolve and discuss the matter. The other clubs fined were: Canberra ($144,393), Newcastle ($88,749), Manly ($85,000), Gold Coast ($16,217), Roosters ($14,348) and Parramatta ($4700). The Raiders immediately announced they would appeal the severity of their fine, but did admit to breaking both their first and second tier salary caps last season. "This overspend related to representative bonuses, and payments to players outside the top 25 to cover long-term injuries," Canberra CEO Don Furner said. In 2012 we had to activate a number of clauses in younger players' contracts, as we needed to fill positions left vacant by long-term injuries to our top squad. Manly were punished thanks to Tony Williams' premature exit to Canterbury. Williams enjoyed a heavily back-ended two-year deal with a get-out clause in his favour for 2013. Schubert determined that Williams' 2012 salary was well below reasonable market price and used his discretion to bump it up. The difference put Manly $85,000 over last year's cap and they were duly fined that amount. Sea Eagles CEO David Perry said the club would consider an appeal. "This breach was in relation to one contract and one player departing earlier than expected," Perry said. Never at any stage did the club believe that it had not complied with both the spirit and intent of the salary cap.