Cronulla is bracing for a salary cap deduction of about $600,000 for this season and next for undisclosed player payments as the NRL prepares to close the book on a number of outstanding integrity issues on Friday.

Centre of attention: Rugby League Central will again be a hub of activity on Friday. Credit:Steven Siewert

The focus will remain on Rugby League Central for a second consecutive day as the governing body announces a host of sanctions that will affect multiple players, clubs and officials. The most pressing matter is the finalisation of a salary cap investigation into the Sharks that was sparked when the club self-reported an anomaly involving their former player Chris Heighington.

The club came forward after a promised $50,000 payment to Heighington was unearthed by former NRL salary cap auditor Jamie L’Oste-Brown shortly after he joined the club. That sparked a wider probe that subsequently cost Cronulla its premiership-winning coach, Shane Flanagan, after it emerged he contravened the rules of his suspension by communicating with staffers.

The investigation found other salary cap breaches, but the 2016 premiership win is not under threat. The NRL has taken into account the fact Cronulla self-reported, with the expected cap deduction to be north of half a million dollars from their cap. It’s possible the sum could be deducted over two years, raising hopes they may not have to shed a single player ahead of the upcoming season. The penalty will allay concerns they will have to lose Shaun Johnson, the Kiwis halfback they recruited from the Warriors over the summer.