NRL: Titans punished for cap breaches

Gold Coast were punished over a salary cap breach in regard to former playmaker Scott Prince. Photo / Getty

Gold Coast have been fined $300,000 and hit with a suspended penalty of four competition points over a salary cap breach in regard to former playmaker Scott Prince.

Prince left the Titans at the end of 2012 and the penalty was issued after an investigation by the NRL integrity unit which was instigated by the new management of the club.

Four other clubs Manly, Newcastle, Sydney Roosters and the Wests Tigers have been issued with fines of more than $90,000 for less serious cap breaches.

The Titans have had $75,000 of their fine and the docking of the competition points suspended because they self reported to the NRL.

In a statement on Thursday the NRL said Prince was paid substantially more than the contract lodged with the NRL by a previous Titans administration.

"This difference in remuneration was never disclosed by the previous Titans administration or Mr Prince and was only unearthed by the new management," the statement said.

"Mr Prince's role as an NRL One Community Ambassador expires this month and will not be renewed."

However the NRL said there was no evidence of systematic rorting of the salary cap at the Titans. The suspended fine and points will be applied if there are any further salary cap breaches by the Titans over the next two years.

-AAP