Canberra joins growing chorus of discontent over salary-cap restrictions THE CANBERRA RAIDERS are dangerously close to emulating Penrith's second-tier salary-cap turmoil as injuries force them to blood more players outside their top-25 squad.
Just a day after the club was heavily fined for last year's minor salary-cap breaches, coach David Furner admitted the Raiders were ''getting close'' to the second-tier cap ceiling for this year.
Furner is weighing up whether to select Dimitri Pelo or Bill Tupou in place of the injured Jack Wighton for Canberra's home clash with North Queensland on Sunday, but alternatives could push their second-tier cap to breaking point.
The NRL salary cap applies only to the top-25 paid players at every club, but the Raiders have already elevated Paul Vaughan, Anthony Milford, Jake Foster and Sami Sauiluma from outside that group because of injuries.
The issue is threatening to prevent Furner calling upon other youngsters should more injuries strike. Under-20s player Jeremy Hawkins and Mounties centre Matt Allwood are in strong form and are being looked at closely.
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Topic: Salary cap threatens to prevent Raiders covering mounting injuries
