The season from hell just got worse off the field for Cronulla after the club was hit with a $150,000 salary-cap breach - the most by any NRL club in a raft of fines handed down by the league.

The NRL has completed its audit and meted out punishments of $500,000 across seven clubs. The Sharks, who have been battling allegations of performance-enhancing drug use at the club in the 2011 season, copped the biggest bill. Canberra ($144,393), Newcastle ($88,749), Manly ($85,000), Gold Coast ($16,217) and Parramatta ($4700) were also fined.

Salary cap dramas: Cronulla's season dogged by off-field dramas just got worse with the club fined by the NRL for a salary cap breach. Credit:Getty Images

The Sharks, who are unlikely to contest the breach, released the following statement: ''These matters relate to confusion regarding the application of third-party arrangements and marquee-player allowances.

''When the club became aware of the issues we immediately contacted the NRL to alert them to the problems. A number of meetings were held with the NRL to fully discuss and resolve the matter. New policies and procedures have been implemented to ensure complete compliance moving forward.'' The clubs have five days to challenge the fines and Canberra will appeal against the severity of theirs.