When the payments were made White was a Level One qualified coach, when a minimum of Level Two is required for payments to be included under coaching.

While considered a minor breach of the cap, SANFL State League manager Darren Chandler said "the SANFL regulations are clear on this”.

“Unfortunately, there seems to have been some confusion on North Adelaide’s part regarding the interpretation the rules.

“A dollar for dollar fine equivalent to the breach has been levied, being $5000 in this case. We do not consider it a deliberate breach and there will be no further ramifications for North from this.

“We are, however, very committed to investigating and punishing deliberate and flagrant breaches of the salary cap, and the Salary Cap Committee continues to investigate payments on a regular basis"

Roosters CEO Glenn Elliott declined to comment extensively on the issue, but stated the breach related to classifications of coaching Levels held by White and the recognition of Level One versus Level Two classifications for the purposes of “coaching payments”.

The sanction caps off a difficult fortnight for the Roosters, who were forced into an embarrassing back flip after announcing a sponsorship deal with Coopers Brewery for 2010. After announcing the deal, the SANFL reminded North of its agreement with Lion Nathan Brewery to supply beer at all SANFL grounds (except Norwood, which has a separate and long standing agreement with Coopers), and the club has had to revert back to West End for 2010.