Parramatta's hopes of avoiding further salary cap woes in 2017 appear in jeopardy with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg issuing a warning over outstanding third-party agreements.
The Eels have reportedly guaranteed $500,000 in third-party deals with its players in 2017, leaving them with little room to manoeuvre in hopes of coming under the $7.1 million cap that year.
Greenberg used a question-and-answer session on Twitter to spell out clearly there will be no exceptions to the NRL's stance on third-party deals in the Eels' scenario.
"Any club that has third party agreements that have been guaranteed to players as part of a negotiation will always form part of the salary cap," Greenberg said.
"Whether that happens this year, next year or in five years ... that's a very clear outcome for all clubs to understand."
Greenberg did however concede in another question, the NRL must do more to explain how third-party agreements work to fans in the wake of the Eels' drama.
"Clearly it's something we need to do a better job of explaining because telling that story and making sure people understand the intricate details of how third party agreements work is important," he said.
"We want to see it done in a fair, level and transparent playing field."
Greenberg's visit to Twitter's Blue Room also featured him talking about the possibility of playing State of Origin fixtures in New Zealand and his stance against expanding the current 16-team structure of the NRL.
Greenberg also speculated on the possibility of further double-headers following the success of last Friday's event in Brisbane.
On the lighter side of discussions, Greenberg warned one questioner to "be careful what you wish for" after he asked for a job at the NRL and politely declined an invitation to share a chicken rissole dinner at another fan's home.
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