THE NRL's investigation into Cronulla's 2011 supplement program is just weeks from climax, with the league's newly-formed integrity unit preparing to interview current and former Sharks staff in the coming days.

The Daily Telegraph has learned the NRL is committed to finalising the long-running saga before the end of the year, meaning that punishments - including bans and fines - are likely to be handed down within the next month.

Any sanctions from the NRL would only relate to proven corporate governance failures over the program, which has dragged 11 Sharks players into ASADA's widespread drugs-in-sport probe.

The NRL's response is unlikely to target players, whose fate will remain tied to the anti-doping authority's ability to prove that banned peptides were administered in 2011.

Instead, coaching staff and administrators who were ultimately responsible for the welfare of players will be in the sights of the NRL.

Over the past months the NRL has quietly registered more than 700 support staff across all grades, meaning coaches, physios, doctors and sports scientists are now answerable to the same code of conduct as players. As such, the NRL now has the power to punish staff for bringing the game into disrepute.

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The AFL used those powers to dish out unprecedented penalties against Essendon in late August.

An NRL spokesman declined to identify which persons would be required for interview.

Five staff were named by an independent investigation that was conducted at the behest of the club's previous board in February: head coach Shane Flanagan, football manager Darren Mooney, trainer Mark Noakes, physio Konrad Schultz and veteran doctor David Givney.

Mooney, Noakes, Schultz and Givney were all dismissed from their posts, while Flanagan was stood down, after the investigation identified "serious management failures" that allowed the program to continue for 11 weeks. Flanagan was re-instated a fortnight later, while Noakes returned in July following a review of the sackings by the club's new board. Mooney is also on the verge of being re-instated.

It's also likely the NRL would want to interview former strength and conditioning coach Trent Elkin, who approved and oversaw the 2011 supplement program.

Sharks chairman Damian Keogh last night responded to The Daily Telegraph's enquiries with a text that read: "Cronulla Sharks continue to work with the NRL on matters concerning 2011.

"We remain optimistic that issues relating to the club are dealt with prior to the start of the 2013 NRL season."