BRISBANE chief executive Paul White has confirmed the NRL is investigating explosive allegations the Broncos have rorted the salary cap by $450,000 over the last three years.

As revealed exclusively by News Corporation, tonight’s State of Origin opener has been marred by an NRL probe into salary cap-related issues involving Brisbane’s recruitment activities.

Queensland assistant coach Michael Hagan has brushed off concerns that questions raised about the Broncos salary cap would be a distraction in tonight’s State of Origin opener.

Hagan said Queensland players remained focused on the game ahead.

“It hasn’t really been talked about within our group,” Hagan said.

“They’re club issues that need to be talked about within their clubs and I don’t think it’s going to have too much impact on our team or our players tonight.”

The squad greeted fans in a walk through the Botanic Gardens this morning, doing light stretches and enjoying the traditional pre-match game of walking touch football.

“The mood is pretty positive and fairly relaxed which is normally how we like to roll,” Hagan said.

“We know that NSW are going to come in here with a bit of an ambush mentality, so hopefully how players will be primed and ready to go by kick-off.”

White fronted a media conference this morning at Red Hill to declare the Broncos reported potential irregularities to NRL CEO Dave Smith and operations chief Jim Doyle.

media_camera Andrew Gee with Broncos development coach Brian Edward and coach Anthony Griffin.

The NRL probe will involve the contracts of some of the biggest-name players in the NRL. The governing body will specifically examine third-party agreements and the fact at least one-big name player is out of pocket for a six-figure amount.

The Broncos boss also revealed the club fielded serious salary-cap allegations from an “external source”, prompting Brisbane hierarchy to launch its own probe before contacting the NRL.

GEE QUITS BRONCOS POST

White stressed the allegations at this stage are “unsubstantiated”, but said the Broncos will give NRL auditors complete access to financial records to ascertain whether a salary-cap breach has occurred.

“The period of time we will look to investigate relates to 2012, 2013 and 2014,” White said.

“We believe if all of these allegations, which I must put on record at this stage are unsubstantiated, the amount over that three-year period (if proven) would total around $450,000.

media_camera Ben Barba move to the Broncos will come under the spotlight.

“We have received some information from an external source regarding possible salary-cap irregularities.

“We initiated an investigation and passed that information on in full to the NRL, who will now conduct an independent investigation.

“We have spoken to the NRL, Dave Smith and Jim Doyle, and offered them our full co-operation.

“They have access to our entire organisation, both people, infrastructure, reports, whatever they require we are comfortable with the process and we look forward to working with them in their independent investigation.

“We look forward to bringing this to a timely resolution and then being in a position to report on final outcomes also.”

The Broncos are a publicly listed company and this morning released information to shareholders on the NRL investigation via the Australian Stock Exchange.

media_camera Anthony Griffin testing time as Broncos coach doesn’t look like it’s getting any easier.

Asked if he can guarantee the Broncos have not engaged in the systemic cap rort involving the Melbourne Storm in 2010, White said: “I’m very confident that where we sit at the moment, we have provided early, advance advice to the NRL that they will come in and do a complete independent investigation.

“The aim of investigation is to partially investigate the facts, not rumours, and then determine a final outcome.

“We are a publicly-listed company and we will make a market announcement about this also.

“We have a number of internal checks and balance within our organisation relating to salary cap, which includes full audit processes and a number of other internal processes we follow.

media_camera Broncos CEO Paul White has yet to respond to calls about the salary cap probe.

“Sometimes you do receive information and this has come external to our organisation. It’s unsubstantiated allegations at this stage but we are treating it with the highest priority and we will let the NRL make the ultimate determination.”

As revealed by News Corporation, at least one leading Broncos player is owed a six-figure sum in unpaid third-party sponsorships.

Given that the probe will focus on the period between 2012-14, the Broncos are confident there is not an issue around Anthony Milford’s deal as he prepares to join the club next season.

But Canberra chiefs are furious with Milford’s impending departure and could feasibly ask the NRL to launch an inquiry into the composition of Milford’s Broncos contract.

The NRL probe comes just 24 hours after the Broncos announced the resignation of club legend Andrew Gee as football operations chief.

There is no suggestion Gee orchestrated any cap rort and White was tight-lipped about the reasons for the Broncos great’s mid-season departure.

“I’m not going to speculate on individuals because that is not appropriate at this time,” he said.

White said the Broncos are treating the allegations, however tenuous at this stage, seriously.

“Anything related to the salary-cap you treat with the utmost importance and we’ve certainly done that in this instance,” he said.

“We’ve given it the highest priority.

“It’s important to note we have initiated the investigation and also the contact with the NRL. We have a strong history of compliance and reporting back to the NRL.

“The fact we have taken it to the NRL quickly and expediently for them to review, that demonstrates how we operate.

“We are on the front-foot here, we are opening our organisation up and we are confident with the process and we will allow the NRL to investigate.”