Manly are expected to contest a $20,000 fine slapped on the club by the NRL, believing their coach Trent Barrett was effectively collateral damage in a crackdown by chief executive Todd Greenberg that included an even heavier fine handed to Cronulla.

The Sharks were slapped with a $30,000 penalty over post-match outbursts against the performance of referees made by Shane Flanagan after the Sharks' elimination from the semi-finals on Sunday while Barrett was also sanctioned for his comments about key decisions that went against the Sea Eagles as they crashed out of the competition on Saturday night.

The NRL sent breach notices to the two clubs on Tuesday afternoon, a day after Greenberg had called on the game to "grow up" and move beyond what he called a culture of blaming match officials for losses.

Manly issued a statement saying the club would be "reviewing the basis upon which the NRL breach notice was issued" but the Sea Eagles are privately adamant that Barrett did not bend the rules by questioning the integrity of match officials.