Canberra Raiders spiritual leader Sia Soliola said the NRL salary cap saga created insecurity for players, but it was up to them to handle it.
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The Raiders have locked in most of their senior squad until at least the end of 2018, but are waiting to find out what the cap will be next year before they can start to extend those players beyond that.
The longer it takes the NRL and Rugby League Players Association to finalise that figure - with the NRL's ambit offer of an $8.3 million base cap well below what clubs and players were hoping for - the longer clubs and players will be in suspended animation.
It means the Raiders could find themselves in a situation similar to what Wests Tigers are currently going through, where their so-called "Big Four" were all off contract at the same time throwing the club into further turmoil.
When asked whether the NRL needed to set the salary cap as soon as possible to ensure a large-scale version of the Tigers didn't happen across all clubs in the NRL next season, Soliola said it "would be nice" if it was sorted quickly.
"Probably, I haven't really thought too much in that sense. They're all discussing that at the moment with the RLPA and the clubs and the NRL," he said.
"It would be nice to see, I think they've come with their proposal, but with it still being up in the air it adds some [insecurity] with a lot of the players as well.
"What you said it disturbs the game a little bit, but it creates something for you guys [the media] to chat about as well.
"For us as players that's part of our responsibilities to learn how to deal and handle those situations because that's all part and parcel of the game.
"Players will come and go, but the club and the game itself will always stand."
NRL ROUND SEVEN
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Raiders squad: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Sia Soliola. Reserves: 18. Dunamis Lui, 19. Jordan Turner, 20. Makahesi Makatoa. 21. Lachlan Croker.
Warriors squad: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2. Blake Ayshford, 3. David Fusitu'a, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. James Gavet, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Jacob Lillyman, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14. Nathaniel Roache, 15. Charlie Gubb, 16. Ligi Sao, 17. Sam Lisone. Reserves: 18. Albert Vete, 20. Bunty Afoa, 21. Mafoa'aeata Hingano, 22. Mason Lino.
