Auckland: Wayne Bennett would love the NRL to investigate why players are suffering career-ending shoulder injuries as Sam Burgess and Matt Gillett were both forced into an early retirement.

South Sydney are sweating on the NRL allowing them to exclude Burgess' multi-million dollar payout from their salary cap, but Bennett said the frequency of shoulder operations was worthy of a debate.

Wayne Bennett feels the spate of shoulder injuries in the NRL should be investigated. Credit:Getty

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said players were "bigger, stronger and faster and collisions are bigger as well" and it may have something to do with tackling techniques.

Speaking in Auckland ahead of the Great Britain Lions' clash against New Zealand, Bennett said: "They [Burgess and Gillett] have similar injuries.