BILLY Slater and Greg Inglis could be the next Melbourne Storm stars in the sights of NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.
The NRL has already announced that Schubert will travel to Storm headquarters in the next week to comb the premier's books for third party sponsorships that have not been properly declared.
Skipper Cameron Smith - who has a $100,000 third party deal with Fox Sports - is already a target because Schubert believes the Storm should have declared $45,000 of that arrangement under its cap.
Although the club and Smith claim otherwise, Schubert thinks the Australian vice-captain has not done enough work with Fox Sports to warrant an exemption for the entire deal.
Inglis and Slater, like Smith, have signed long-term contract extensions with the Storm over the past two years, also have third party agreements with non-club sponsors.
The NRL last night refused to confirm what other players might be scrutinised but a well-placed source said Inglis and Slater were both on the hit-list.
According to the source, Schubert will also be attempting to satisfy himself that Slater and Inglis have done enough work with their third party sponsors to justify the exemptions that Melbourne have claimed.
If guilty, its likely the Storm would face a fine that reflects what amounts should have been declared.
Josh Massoud The Daily Telegraph