Cronulla have vowed not to let their salary cap scandal derail their chance of claiming a second NRL title in three years.
A dark cloud threatens to linger over the Sharks this September with revelations the club is being investigated by the NRL integrity unit over historical claims of salary cap cheating.
Shortly after taking over the job earlier this year, Sharks CEO Barry Russell went to the NRL after he uncovered what appeared to be an undisclosed third party deal from 2015.
Both the governing body and the Sharks are adamant that the club's 2018 salary cap is above board - with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg saying they were $500,000 below the salary cap this year.
However it shapes as an unwanted distraction for coach Shane Flanagan and his men, who sit in fourth heading into their final round clash with Canterbury.
"I said to the players, what I want them to do, and how they can help me, and how they can help the club, is stay focused," Russell said.
"We have an unbelievable group of players - they really care about where we're going, we want to win this weekend. We want a second premiership and that's our goal."
The Sharks have emerged as a dark horse of the competition ever since their gutsy win over ladder leaders Melbourne three weeks ago.
And Russell said they weren't about to have their boat rocked.
"There is a lot of data to work through, so that does take time and our club is being fully co-operative," Russell said.
"But our priority at the moment is for our playing squad to just remain strong, focused on the final series and I believe we have every chance to really give this competition a good shake.
"The squads trained well, this is not affecting them."
Share
