Canterbury coach Des Hasler has taken a sly shot at the NRL over their inability to finalise the salary cap and the environment of uncertainty it has created around his club.

A potential firesale and mass horse trading looms ahead of season 2018 with the NRL and Rugby League Players Association yet to agree on a collective bargaining agreement despite the grand final being just over seven weeks away.

Understated: Bulldogs coach Des Hasler. Credit:AAP

Clubs, players and their managers are in the dark because each franchise does not yet know how much they will be able to spend on their roster next year.

The NRL argues that it advised clubs in April to work towards a provisional cap of $9.14 million.