League: Gold Coast face NRL cap probe

Corey Norman (C) of the Eels celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round 20 NRL match against the Parramatta Eels. Photo / Getty Images

Gold Coast's ailing NRL campaign has hit another bump with the league confirming it's investigating possible salary cap breaches by the club.

A day after the Titans slumped to a seventh straight home loss against Parramatta, Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley said he'd noticed the irregularities following his appointment last year.

It's the second time in four years the club's finances have come under the microscope after the NRL cleared the Titans of any wrongdoing in 2010 over claims then halfback Scott Prince was offered a house worth $400,000 for free.

Yesterday's revelation caps a tough few weeks for the Titans, who have announced a complete internal review of the club's football operations with the prospect of a fourth season without finals looming.

Saturday's 24-18 defeat to the Eels means the Titans need to win five of their remaining six matches and hope other results fall their way to somehow make the top eight.

Annesley said the salary cap irregularities were discovered long before the club's review was announced. "This was reported by me to the NRL many months ago.

"There were irregularities that I discovered that I reported to the NRL and they've been investigating those since then."

Regardless of the outcome of the NRL investigation, pressure is mounting on foundation coach John Cartwright.

The club tried to replicate their away form before the visit by the Eels by checking themselves into a Surfers Paradise hotel on Friday night.

While that ploy didn't bring the desired result, Cartwright said it was just part of showing his players the coaching staff is still working hard to salvage a wobbling campaign.

"We'll keep trying. Whatever it takes, whatever we can do we'll keep trying," Cartwright said.

- AAP