Todd Greenberg has said the investigation into the Cronulla Sharks' salary cap issues will not affect this season's finals series and that the Sharks are "significantly" under the cap for this season. The Sharks are currently sitting in fourth spot on the NRL ladder and will hope to secure a top four finish against the Bulldogs this Sunday afternoon. NRL boss Greenberg told a press conference in Sydney this afternoon that every club was salary cap compliant for this season, and the Sharks are "significantly under the salary cap for this year". NRL boss Todd Greenberg was confident that any breaches would be uncovered by the integrity unit. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts However, if the investigation does uncover a breach, Greenberg was confident appropriate action would be taken. "Naturally, if we uncover any evidence of salary cap cheating we will deal with it and we will deal with it appropriately." Greenberg said. "Again, it is a reminder to every person in every single club. If you cheat the salary cap, ultimately you will be caught." The NRL had confirmed earlier this morning that its integrity unit is making inquiries into "salary cap matters" at the Cronulla Sharks during the 2015 and 2017 seasons. The Sharks said they informed the league earlier in the year of "salary cap discrepancies" relating to historical third-party player payments, discovered during a club-instigated governance review. "The Sharks self reported to the NRL and asked for their assistance in investigating this matter," the club said. "The club is fully cooperating with the NRL integrity unit, allowing them access to any information they require to complete their investigation." Greenberg confirmed that the Sharks had self reported, and that the breach was on a smaller scale to previous controversies involving Manly Sea Eagles, Parramatta Eels or Melbourne Storm. "I would describe it as, there are some concerns raised by the club and that have been brought forward to us. What we have done is we have taken those concerns and we have started an investigation. "What I can tell you is that the scale of it is not like we have seen previously." The Sharks won their maiden premiership in 2016 and at this stage it is understood that title is not in danger. Sharks' team captain Paul Gallen (C) holds aloft the winners trophy as he and his team mates celebrate after the 2016 NRL Grand Final. ( AAP: David Moir However the drama does have the potential to disrupt the Sharks internally this season, with the Paul Gallen-led club entering the final round of the NRL this weekend as one of the in-form sides. Speaking on Fox Sports, Cronulla veteran Luke Lewis said he and the team were not worried. "I'd love to see obviously where it's all going and what's happening, but my guess is as good as anyone else," he said. "I don't really know what's happening at the moment. "To be brutally honest, we've been through it all before obviously back in '15 or '14, whenever it was, with the ASADA stuff. "Mate, it is what it is."<doc-sep>The NRL is investigating whether Cronulla breached the salary cap after self-reporting potential third-party breaches to head office. Sharks chief executive Barry Russell made the NRL aware of potential “discrepancies” relating to historical third-party player payments discovered during a club-instigated governance review. The Sharks have made the NRL aware of potential “discrepancies” relating to historical third-party player payments. Credit:NRL Photos It’s believed the period in question covers the Sharks maiden premiership victory of 2016, although at this stage it is unlikely the title will be stripped. The undisclosed player payments are believed to total about $250,000 and go back as far as three years.<doc-sep>AS far as Brad Fittler is concerned the Sharks have done nothing wrong. The NSW Blues head coach and former Roosters mentor has made a shocking statement in defence of Cronulla, saying the club is under-fire over a breach that is “probably happening at every club”. “It’s always going to happen. It’s most probably happening at every club, some sort of misdemeanour,” Fittler told Wide World of Sports. “They’re quite complicated salary caps. It doesn’t seem like it is in the same ball park as the Melbourne and the Canterbury-Bankstown [cases] when they all happened.” Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply. The Channel 9 commentator suggested it was reasonable for the Sharks to organise third-party payments to players as long as they weren’t spending more than the Broncos on their roster. “If you look at Cronulla, and let’s say it’s $250,000, then Brisbane have actually paid in third party [deals] maybe an extra million. So who are the Sharks really cheating against?” Fittler continued. “They’re cheating against the fact they can’t work it in a manner that someone like Brisbane or another club can work it in another third party program. “Unless you’re manipulating and conniving and doing it in certain ways, then really, unless you’re spending more than Brisbane or whoever spend the most on third parties, then you know what - do your best. “Given it was so long ago... They’re still spending a lot less than other clubs,” Fittler said. “If you’re talking about fairness, it’s what you’re paying for your footy team. As long as they’re spending less than Brisbane, then play on.” The NRL has been slammed for its inability to prevent dodgy third-party deals from helping clubs retain or attract players, and Fittler can’t see a way to crack down on the issue either. “How do they do it? Are they going to be at a cafe when someone slips you a $50 under your avocado smash?” he said. READ MORE LATE MAIL: PANTHERS STAR RETURNS, YOUNG KNIGHT TO DEBUT ASH TAYLOR: THE CHAT WITH JT THAT CHANGED MY GAME PLAYING ON: SMITH SET TO BECOME 400-GAME PLAYER NEW GIG: CARTWRIGHT SET TO BE NAMED MANLY COACH BIG PICTURE: BUNNIES OFF THE BOIL HOOPER: SHARK AT CENTRE OF SALARY CAP ALLEGATIONS PLAYED GF ‘HARD TO KNOCK BACK’: SMITH FEARED BELLAMY WAS BRONCOS BOUND<doc-sep>
The NRL’s finals series threatens to be overshadowed by off-field drama after it was revealed Cronulla are being investigated for historical third-party discrepancies. The Sharks confirmed on Tuesday night they had self-reported issues that date back to 2015, which were first spotted by new chief executive Barry Russell earlier this year. According to a News Corp Australia report, the NRL has also seized a number of servers from the club to help with inquiries. However, both the Sharks and the league were insistent there were no concerns over any breaches for this season less than two weeks out from Cronulla entering the playoffs. “This is a historical issue, we are currently salary cap compliant for the 2018 season having passed our mid-season salary cap review,” the Sharks said in a statement. “The Sharks self-reported to the NRL and asked for their assistance in investigating this matter. “The club is fully cooperating with the NRL integrity unit, allowing them access to any information they require to complete their investigation. The discrepancies occurred under previous club management.” According to the report, the initial concern appears to be around $250,000, however there is still a chance that could grow. Crucially, the club won its maiden premiership in 2016 but it’s not believed the initial breaches are bad enough to threaten that. However, the club has faced a battle since then to retain a number of their grand-final winning stars as they feel the pinch of their rising values. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the NRL also confirmed the Sharks had asked the integrity unit to make the inquiries. “Those inquiries are ongoing so we are not in a position to comment further at this stage,” he said. “However, based on the information available, the Sharks and all other clubs are salary cap compliant for 2018.”