The NRL will begin conducting salary cap spot checks on clubs in a bid to uncover systematic rorting and to restore confidence in the game's integrity.

Rugby league has been rocked by three salary cap scandals in the space of just eight years with Manly the latest to be added to a shame file that also includes Parramatta and Melbourne. Those busts have raised concerns the practice is widespread, creating scepticism among fans and the clubs themselves.

Cracking down: NRL boss Todd Greenberg hands down Manly's penalties in March. Credit:AAP

The NRL has always had the power to conduct spot checks, but their investigations have been largely reactionary. Previous rorts have been primarily unearthed by whistleblowers, rather than the result of investigative work from head office, which didn’t find any anomalies during its scheduled audits.

The previous protocol was for the NRL to conduct half-yearly audits of the clubs, Rugby League Central forewarning them when they were coming and which files they wished to inspect. Such a practice effectively tips off clubs that are cooking the books, giving them time to cover their tracks.