Cronulla have denied reports that phones belonging to Sharks directors have been seized by the NRL’s integrity unit as part of a salary cap breach probe.
News Corp Australia on Monday reported that phones were handed in as part of an investigation into irregularities during 2015 and 2017.
But the NRL club denied the reports on Tuesday.
“Contrary to an article first published digitally by the Daily Telegraph on Monday evening, October 29, the National Rugby League Integrity Unit has not confiscated any mobile phones from Cronulla Sharks Directors as part of their salary cap investigation relating to third party player payments,” a Sharks statement read.
“We continue to cooperate with the NRL Integrity Unit but due to the ongoing confidential nature of the investigation, we will not be making any further comment.”
Sharks CEO Barry Russell initially self reported the possible breaches after finding suspicious and historic payments during a club-instigated governance review.
At the time, it was thought the breach could be more than $250,000.
When the cap drama first surfaced, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said coach Shane Flanagan, former CEO Lyall Gorman and ex-chairman Damian Keogh would be asked to front the code’s integrity unit.