Cronulla boss Richard Fisk is adamant the last-placed Sharks will meet their assurance to re-signed star Paul Gallen to field competitive sides in the NRL.

Gallen this year extended his deal with Cronulla until the end of 2013, with the club telling the Test forward as part of the negotiations it would be able to spend money on quality players.

But coach Ricky Stuart's comment that the club wasn't spending the full amount of the salary cap after Sunday's 44-16 thrashing by Brisbane appeared to cause Gallen concern.

He told reporters he hoped that wasn't true, and Fisk clarified the club's cap spending on Monday.

"Basically we spend (the full amount) on the NRL salary cap but we haven't gone to the limit on our second tier or NYC (national youth competition) salary caps," Fisk told AAP.

"Not every club does, the Wests Tigers won the comp (in 2005) without reaching the full salary cap.

"The new management and the board inherited a football club in which people had been spending way past their own means.

"All we've simply done is come in and say we can't afford to spend that money.

"We could keep spending like a drunken sailor and the club would go broke or we can be responsible in the way that we're spending our money."

Fisk said Gallen had not been told the club would spend the entire amount over both tiers of the salary cap.

"The term salary cap capacity was never used, it was to ensure that we're going to have a competitive team," he said.

"It was about the top tier and it has got there.

"There's a lot of quality players (at the club).

"It's not about not having the money to get the quality players, it's about them performing."

Meanwhile, Fisk said he was prepared to go out on a limb to defend coach Stuart, who has presided over 15 losses in the side's last 16 outings.

The performances have coincided with a massive injury toll, in 2009, and a series of off-field dramas.

"Ricky's in a very unique position too where I'm unashamedly looking to protect (him)," Fisk said.

"He's gone through two years at this place that not many other coaches, administrators or people in rugby league have had to endure.

"That's been darn tough and hard on him and he's the guy that's kept this place going by doing three or four jobs, not just the coach's job.

"Ricky's earned everyone's respect on that."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP