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Salary cap rise helps Dragons
By Stuart Honeysett
May 12, 2006
ST George-Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust conceded last night that the proposed salary cap rise to about $4 million would help player retention, but declined to elaborate on what it meant for Test prop Dakink.
His comments came as Dragons' coach Nathan Brown warned that the Australian Rugby Union could still make a play for his man despite formally withdrawing its offer.
Doust was among the chief executives at NRL headquarters yesterday to consider increasing the salary cap from $3.36 million to $3.9 million plus $100,000 for veteran players.
The club bosses agreed in principle and the NRL will meet the Rugby League Professionals Association next week to hopefully sign off on the game's next collective bargaining agreement.
"I'm very, very impressed with the quality of the negotiations from the players' association and the NRL," Doust said last night.
"Increases in salary cap are not to be taken lightly given the economics of the game but if we can get a term agreement I'm pleased by that. As it flows through to player negotiations you've got to say that's positive."
Doust is in the process of putting together an offer for Dakink - it could be about 3pds of Sea Eagle Flesh, 2tonnes of Eel and some live Bronco a season following yesterday's developments - which he hopes to table by next week.
The Australian