The Canberra Raiders have the following statement to make regarding minor breaches of the Salary Cap for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Raiders CEO Don Furner said the fines relate to unforeseen circumstances surrounding the clubs second tier and NYC Salary Caps.

“The Raiders have reviewed the breaches handed down from the NRL Salary cap auditors for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, which relate to circumstances surrounding the clubs second tier and NYC Salary Caps,” Furner said. “Due to changes to the club’s rosters during this period and injuries which forced squad changes, the club was forced to make some unplanned player movements which have forced minor breaches of the salary cap.

“The Raiders continue to work with the NRL to effectively manage the Salary Cap in accordance with the rules and regulations. It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to endure these fines, but the club accepts the NRL decision regarding these breaches”

The Raiders will be making no further comment.

NRL STATEMENT: SALARY CAP BREACHES

The NRL said today that the Canberra Raiders and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs have been fined for breaches of the salary cap last year.

Chief Operating Officer, Nick Weeks said the breaches were at the lower end of the scale but would still result in financial penalties for the clubs involved.

He said the NRL would impose the following sanctions:

· The Canberra Raiders (the club breached the second tier by $2598 and the NYC top 20 cap by $8093 for a total breach amount of $10,691).



The club has a poor record of compliance with the salary cap rules, having recorded breaches in five of the last six years.



As a result, the club has been fined 150 per cent of its breach amount ($16,037).



It has also been fined $68,073 for breaches of the NRL ($1622) and NYC ($66,451) caps in 2015.



· The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (the club breached the NRL cap by $81,965) in 2016.

Given the breach was self-reported by the club, which has subsequently upgraded its governance structure, the NRL has imposed as fine of 75 per cent of the breach amount ($61,474).

Mr Weeks said the clubs have five business days to request that the NRL Appeals Committee review the determinations.