MORE details of Manly’s alleged salary cap breaches have come to light, with one senior rugby league journalist describing the case “as blatant as it gets”.

The NRL issued breach notices to the northern Sydney club and two of its senior officials after an investigation uncovered potential breaches of the cap over a five-year period.

The Sea Eagles later issued a statement denying at least some of the findings, and will fight the breach notice.

But NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent revealed the worrying extent of the alleged rorting.

Round 20

“The NRL have uncovered evidence, allegedly, whereby Manly have been signing players for example to $150,000 and they register the contract at the NRL for $100,000,” Kent said.

“Which is as blatant as it gets when it comes to cheating.

“It’s not a lot of money. It’s significantly less money than Parramatta and it’s spread over five years.”

Parramatta was last year fined $1 million and docked 12 competition points for breaches of the salary cap, which ultimately robbed them of playing finals in 2016.

But the NRL is unlikely to dock points from the Sea Eagles in 2018.

Senior News Corp reporter Phil Rothfield explained why the two cases are viewed differently by the NRL.

“It’s identical in that it involves third party payments, and payments that at this stage allege involved Manly club officials,” Rothfield told NRL 360.

“When I say it’s identical to Parramatta, monetary wise I think it’s about 25 per cent. We’re talking up to $400,000 worth of payments to players that shouldn’t have been made with the help of Manly officials.

“What will happen from here, if found guilty ... the Sea Eagles are going to have to add $400,000 to their salary cap next year, and what that means is the hopes of signing Trent Hodkinson or Todd Carney now looking very remote.”

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BAZ’S BOOZE BAN ON TODD

Even if Todd Carney can earn a contract at Manly, there will be strict clauses placed in it to avoid the fallen star lapsing into old habits.

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent revealed Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett plans to place a booze ban on Carney if he makes the move south to rejoin the NRL.

Carney has a lengthy rap sheet, and most of his off-field incidents have involved alcohol.

“Trent Barrett told me that if (Carney) did come to Manly it would be on the condition that he did not drink,” Kent said.

“He got sacked from the NRL three years ago, went away to show everyone he could repent in England and didn’t learn his lesson there.

“The NRL never banned Todd Carney, what they said was when a contract comes to us we will consider it.

“Every NRL club said this is the problem if we sign Todd, he’ll put us on the back pages almost immediately, but at some point we’ll be asleep in our beds, our phone will ring and we know we’ll wake up in the morning with Todd on the front pages, and you don’t know when it’s coming.”

LAST CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST BATTLERS

The NRL is reportedly about to sell the Gold Coast licence to Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly, who are “last standing” according to NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent.

And they could be the last hope the glitter strip has of homing an NRL club, according to Fairfax reporter Andrew Webster.

The Titans are just the latest rugby league franchise to struggle on the Gold Coast.

“No matter what, this is it,” Webster said.

“No more chances Gold Coast. No more Giants, Seagulls, Gladiators, Chargers, whatever ... this has to be it.

“You can no longer deny Brisbane a second team with the Gold Coast franchise continually floundering along and the NRL having to tip so much money into it.”

GIDZ BACK AT KNIGHTS

Club favourite Kurt Gidley has returned to Newcastle in an official capacity.

The former Origin player has joined the Knights as business development executive, taking a lead role with the commercial team.

Gidley played 251 games for the club and has now retired from the game.

“It is good to be back and seeing some familiar faces but also some new faces, which is exciting for the team and the whole town,” Gidley told the club website.

“I am really excited to be back in Newcastle … my family and I have settled in over the last couple of months and I’m ready to get into something new and I’ve been fortunate enough to have a role back here at the Knights.”

CHOC: SBW WON’T COME BACK TO LEAGUE

Sonny Bill Williams will probably never return to play rugby league, according to close friend and professional boxer Anthony Mundine.

Williams won NRL premierships at Canterbury and then the Roosters during his 118 games in the competition, but walked away from rugby league in 2014 to join rugby, where he’s been ever since.

There’s since been constant speculation about a possible return to the 13-man code but at 32 years old that’s looking less likely.

“I feel he’ll stay in rugby,” Mundine told Fairfax Media.

“As great as rugby league is, rugby is the world game. Lots of countries play it all over Europe and South Africa, it’s massive.

“I went to South Africa to watch him play a (Super Rugby) game and they had fans waiting outside the hotel room. It’s a big thing.

“It’s the biggest sport over there. It’s crazy.”