NRL boss David Gallop says Ricky Stuart has called him to apologise over a newspaper column written by the Cronulla coach.

The call came after Stuart used his News Limited column to criticise the way the league's salary cap affects clubs with players who have suffered long-term injuries.

Stuart used Sharks prop John Mannah's battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma as an example and called for the introduction of an injured reserve list similar to those in US leagues the NFL and NHL.

Under that system, players who suffer season-ending injuries can be replaced on a club's roster.

Stuart claimed the NRL salary cap meant the only way a player like Mannah could be replaced would be if the injured or ill player was sacked.

"Ricky rang me to apologise for any implied criticism of (salary cap auditor) Ian Schubert," Gallop told AAP on Sunday.

"The fact is the Sharks are hopeful that John will be back on the field and on that basis the salary cap auditor has made no decision."

Gallop defended the cap's concessions for long-term injuries.

"We already have an allowance for long-term injuries which may be available to the Sharks if John doesn't recover, but we're all hopeful that he will," Gallop said.

"The salary cap is already measured on a top 25 (players) rather than a top 17 and there are a number of rules for bringing up second tier players when there is injury.

"I'm happy to sit down and discuss any ideas with Ricky. We agreed that when he rang me this morning."

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