解:
(1) $\because \sqrt{16}<\sqrt{17}<\sqrt{25},$即$4<\sqrt{17}<5$
$\therefore 1<\sqrt{17}-3<2$
$\therefore a=1,$$b=\sqrt{17}-3-1=\sqrt{17}-4$
(2) 将$a=1,$$b=\sqrt{17}-4$代入式子:
$(-3a)^3+(b+4)^2=(-3×1)^3+(\sqrt{17}-4+4)^2=-27+17=-10$
$\therefore (-3a)^3+(b+4)^2$的立方根为$\sqrt[3]{-10}=-\sqrt[3]{10}$