Sea Eagles and Dragons seek cap relief following NRL suspensions

Manly will have almost $100,000 to spend as cover for Dylan Walker with the Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra to hit the player market in a bid to shore up their weakened rosters.

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Manly will have almost $100,000 to spend as cover for Dylan Walker with the Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra to hit the player market in a bid to shore up their weakened rosters.
Both clubs are eligible for a break in cap payments after Walker and Jack de Belin were the first players stood down by the NRL’s new no-fault stand-down policy. The NRL has agreed to offer salary cap relief to those clubs who have players stooddown but cash-strapped clubs such as St George Illawarra and the Sea Eagles will need to pay the extra funds themselves.
It is understood the Dragons will have their proposal for relief put to the NRL before Thursday’s clash against Brisbane.

The struggling Sea Eagles will look to replace Dylan Walker. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

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Manly have secured $98,000 in salary cap relief by the NRL to cover Walker’s absence.
Sea Eagles boss Lyall Gorman confirmed his club were now on the lookout to add an outside back to their roster.
“We are going to look at the market,” Gorman said.

“We will explore the options and test their merits. From there we will make a formal application to the NRL.”
Manly were keen on St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken last year and may revisit that signing. The Dragons have highly fancied Zac Lomax languishing in reserve grade who could cover for the loss of Aitken.

Euan Aitken is a potential option to replace Walker. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)

The Sea Eagles will be without Walker until at least May 10 when proceedings resume following an alleged domestic incident with his partner in December. Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler made a subtle request with the NRL about naming Walker before Manly’s round one clash against the Tigers which was flatly rejected.
The Sea Eagles only have 29 registered players meaning they can add a player to their roster regardless of Walker’s outcome.
An NRL spokesman confirmed the Dragons are set to follow the Sea Eagles’ lead and push for an exemption of their own.
“The Dragons have indicated today (Friday) that they are interested in seeking salary cap relief for Jack de Belin,” an NRL spokesman said.

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“We have asked the Dragons to provide details of their proposal which will be considered by the salary cap auditor.”
Dragons coach Paul McGregor said he wanted clarity regarding the rules for cap relief following the club’s 34-18 loss to South Sydney on Thursday night.
The Saturday Telegraph has learnt the Dragons will deliver that proposal before they travel to Brisbane to play the Broncos on Thursday.

The winless Dragons are struggling in the absence of de Belin who is challenging the no-fault policy in the Federal Court on April 16.
De Belin’s absence has been compounded by the injury to Tyson Frizell but they will welcome Korbin Sims into the squad for his first appearance against his former club.