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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/n...-ward-off-rivals/story-e6frfgbo-1225882449839
Radical NRL salary cap changes to ward off rivals
* EXCLUSIVE by Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* June 22, 2010 12:00AM
THE NRL is finally and firmly fighting back against big-spending rivals, the AFL and rugby union.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that marquee players can now earn another $300,000 a year on top of their existing NRL contracts.
The initiative is expected to be ratified at a club chief executives conference today.
It is understood the move will ensure rugby league's elite players stay in the NRL, unlike Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau, who walked out for the big money in AFL.
Currently, each club can spend a total of $150,000 on three marquee players - $50,000 each - to top up their contracts.
That figure will now increase to $300,000 with the three-player restriction lifted.
That means clubs can spend the money on several players - or just one.
One official said: "It means that the big-name players on $500,000 a year can now earn $800,000 a year. There's no doubt that will stop them going to rival codes."
The NRL is also ready to announce that the salary cap will be lifted from $4.1 million to $4.2 million while the NRL grant to each club was lifted by $300,000 a year last week.
An alteration to the long-service grant will also be discussed today.
Players with eight years experience can attract a $100,000 increase to their club's salary cap.
That could now be $100,000 for players with six years service and then another $100,000 after eight years.
Asked if the moves were aimed at rugby league retaining its stars, leading manager George Mimis said: "I think doubling the marquee player allowance and relaxing the rules applied to it clearly gives clubs an opportunity to retain marquee players."
South Sydney chief executive and NRL salary cap committee member, Shane Richardson, said the changes were aimed at offering players better money.
"The marquee player payment shouldn't have any restrictions," Richardson said.
"The whole idea is to make sure the players can earn more money in our game. We aren't changing the salary cap - just the mentality of the salary cap.
"We also have to be flexible in what we do."
NRL chief executive David Gallop added: "We are looking at some expansion of the existing concessions to ensure that we are maximising our third-party payments and compensating long-serving players.
"But affordability is still the key and giving fans of every club the most chance of their team competing each week."