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.”

Round 20

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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.

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