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NRL considering salary cap exemption for clubs that sign up to two PNG players
The NRL is considering a bold salary cap exemption plan to fast-track Papua New Guinea’s development of players before the nation’s historic entry into the league.
Michael Carayannis
,
Peter Badel
and
Brent Read
2 min read
April 17, 2025 - 8:00AM
News Sport Network
National Rugby League Chief Executive Andrew Abdo has awarded high praise for the NRL expansion, calling the development a “transformative deal”. Mr Abdo’s comments follow Anthony Albanese’s joint announcement with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape that PNG will enter the NRL competition on a $600 million ten-year deal. “What a wonderful opportunity this presents for us,” Mr Abdo told Sky News Australia. “This is an opportunity over the next ten years to develop pathways and provide rugby league as a sport that really unifies our region. “It’s a language that everyone understands and brings us closer together.”
There are plans to grant clubs a full salary cap exemption should they sign up to two PNG players as soon as next season in a bid to assist with the minnow nation’s development of players before their entry to the NRL in 2028.
It is understood the NRL’s proposal would see club’s incentivised to sign a PNG player by making their entire salary exempt from next year’s $11.8 million cap.
The NRL has flirted with the prospect of granting cap exemptions to code-hoppers in the past to try and entice talent from rival codes.
However, this is potentially a significant decision which allows clubs to have two players in their top 30 sit outside the cap.
The plan is still in the consultation process but the NRL would not allow established PNG stars including Alex Johnston, Xavier Coates or Jack de Belin to be exempt.
Nor would any Super League based players be eligible. Instead the NRL want to promote PNG-based pathway players.
PNG's Morea Morea. Picture: NRL Photos
PNG's Morea Morea. Picture: NRL Photos
Alex Max. Picture: NRL Photos
It is understood the proposal includes;
• Salary cap exemption that incentivise clubs to sign PNG pathway players into a top 30 or supplementary list contract. This is to accelerate the expansion of the elite player talent pool prior to PNG’s entry in 2028.
• PNG Pathways Player would be defined as a player contracted as a PNG Hunters player (ie playing in the relevant Australian State league competitions) and/or contracted within the PNG catchment area (or a combination of both) for two or more continuous seasons prior to his first top 30 or supplementary list contract.
PNG Joins NRL: What You Need to Know in 60 seconds
• To be classified as a PNG pathways player the player must be a PNG citizen or national and must not have been contracted to a club in Australia, NZ or any other country prior to their first top 30 or NRL supplementary list contract.
• Clubs may seek a salary cap exemption for up to two PNG pathways players per year.
• PNG Pathways Players are only eligible to receive the exemption from one club.
• Current NRL contracted players are ineligible.
Gairo Voro. Picture: NRL Photos
Sanny Wabo. Picture: NRL Photos
Standout players for the PNG Hunters include Sanny Wabo, Morea Morea, Alex Max, Gairo Voro – all of whom are expected to be among those who will attract interest from NRL clubs.
A minimum wage top 30 contract is worth $135,000 next season. A supplementary player will earn $80,000 with clubs having to have at least four on their books and a maximum of six per club.
They are also entitled to a $3000 bonus per game if they play first grade. PNG are continuing with their junior development across the country highlighted by a junior Kumuls development camp held last month for 25 of the best up and coming stars.
PNG’s entry into the competition was announced in December as part of a $600 million deal with the backing of the Australian government.
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