New twist in Cronulla’s salary cap investigation

Some of the Cronulla Sharks' directors have had their mobile phones confiscated by the NRL integrity unit as part of the ongoing investigation into the club's potential salary cap breaches.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the directors in question reluctantly handed over their phones on Monday morning to the NRL.

This is a new development in the NRL's examination into the Sharks alleged salary cap irregularities during the period of 2015 and 2017.

Sharks Chief Executive Barry Russell explained in a statement there would be no comments made regarding the matter.

“Unfortunately, I’m not able to make any comment as the investigation by the NRL is ongoing and confidential,” Russell said.

The NRL too would not comment on the issue, but a proposed 'well-placed' source believes the investigation must be heating up if phones have been taken.

Cronulla officials remain concerned about what transpired in 2015, even more so now the NRL could have access to potential mobile phone evidence.

It is unknown whether the Sharks CEO during this period of time, now the chief executive for Manly, Lyall Gorman, had his phone confiscated too, but he was not seen at Sea Eagles headquarters on Monday.

The story first broke in August when Russell self-announced there was a possibly breach to the salary cap.

Its understood the NRL has been investigating the matter for six months, making it a priority but is yet to nail down its final findings.

The NRL already impounded a number of servers in August, with Russell finding some suspicious and historic payments during a club-instigated governance review, then quickly informed the NRL integrity unit.

At the time, the breach was thought to be around $250,000, with the Daily Telegraph reporting in August the investigation was surrounding undeclared third-party payments as player values increased after their maiden premiership in 2016.

It is unclear whether coach Shane Flanagan's mobile phone was too taken.

No time frame has been finalised by the NRL on when they hope to hand down their findings.