League: Close NRL could hamper salary cap changes

The closest competition in almost 100 years could prove a major stumbling block to a push from NRL clubs for salary cap changes allowing them to spend more money.

Clubs such as the Roosters and Broncos want the NRL to make provisions for sponsors to be able to go outside the existing A$3.3 million ($3.56 million) cap by paying individual players up to A$50,000 more than their contract.

But with the cap helping produce the tightest ladder in living memory, the game's power brokers may be reluctant to return to the days when wealthy clubs sucked the life out of the competition, while the less wealthy clubs struggled.

After seven rounds, the Cowboys, Broncos, Sharks, Sea Eagles and Raiders are tied in first place on 12 points.

Only two points separates sixth-placed Melbourne and the 14th-placed Rabbitohs, who are just four points off the premiership lead.

The salary cap has achieved its objective of levelling out the competition and spreading out the talent.

Statistics guru David Middleton said records going back to 1939 could not find a premiership which had five teams sharing the lead after seven rounds.

The closest comparison was in 1998, when three teams - Manly, Canberra and Newcastle - were tied for the lead after eight rounds.

Meanmwhile, Michael Crocker and Billy Slater were among seven players charged by the judiciary yesterday.

Sydney Roosters backrower Crocker will receive a three-match suspension if he unsuccessfully fights a grade two careless high tackle charge, ruling him out of matches against Newcastle and the New Zealand Warriors.

He would also miss the opening State of Origin game in Brisbane on May 25 because the struggling Roosters have a bye in round 11.

However, the Roosters are likely to enter an early guilty plea, leaving Crocker to sit out two matches.

Melbourne fullback Slater faces up to two weeks on the sidelines after being charged with a grade two contrary conduct charge for a head slam.

The Storm have the bye this weekend, meaning Slater could be suspended for a round-10 match against South Sydney and, if picked in Queensland's 17-man Origin squad, he would be ineligible to serve out his suspension in round 11 against the Bulldogs.

Queensland officials could refuse to name Slater in the squad in scenes reminiscent of 2002 when the selectors sent out a team with "to be arranged" on the wing, freeing Lote Tuqiri to play Origin.

Slater's tackle on Cronulla winger David Simmons last Saturday left Simmons badly concussed.

NRL officials sought extra footage of the tackle before taking action and the Storm want to view that material before deciding whether to enter an early guilty plea, which will result in a one-match suspension.

An injury-depleted Newcastle are likely to lose veteran forward Craig Smith for two weeks after he was also charged with a grade two head slam.

North Queensland forward Micheal Luck faces up to four weeks out for a grade one reckless high tackle, while Manly prop Kylie Leuluai will miss just one match with an early guilty plea to a grade two careless high tackle.

Cowboys centre Paul Bowman, facing a grade two careless high tackle charge, and City Origin winger Hazem El Masri will escape suspension with early guilty pleas.

El Masri was charged with grade one contrary conduct after lashing out with his leg at Luke Burt as the Parramatta winger scored a try last Saturday.