https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/2803a286397758283bb0b620a57a107b
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg wants to overhaul third party agreements
MATT LOGUE, The Daily Telegraph
February 9, 2018 5:00pm
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has vowed to overhaul the contentious third party deal system, including placing a salary cap on players’ extra earnings.
Amid calls for TPA’s to be altered or scrapped altogether, Greenberg says he is determined to find the right structure for all parties.
He said third party deals will be on the agenda at the CEO’s first meeting for 2018 next week.
Greenberg understands the criticism aimed at TPAs, and it’s why he wants to discuss options to create an even playing field for all clubs.
“It is clear that we need some change and that we can evolve and modernise TPA’s,” Greenberg said.
“We are going to have a very open workshop with all 16 club chiefs. Our salary cap guys will come in the room and we are going to talk very openly about the challenges of the current system and how we think there are ways to improve it.
“We will then take some of those leanings and sit with the RLPA, who have also demonstrated in our CBA negotiations that they are very open to look at the TPA system.
“There are a whole pile of questions we need to answer, because ultimately the salary cap is there to ensure that talent is equalised across the competition and that is our great strength.
“So any changes or additions we make to the TPA system will need to reflect that as well.”
Greenberg said he isn’t sure what an ideal third party system would entail, but he’ll welcome any suggestions.
He said a cap for TPA’s would also be discussed in a bid to create fairness across all 16 NRL clubs.
For example — as a one team town, Brisbane can attract more third party deals than Parramatta given the Eels’ market is confined to a section of Sydney compared to an entire major city.
Greenberg recognises this discrepancy and wants to find a resolution for all clubs.
“When I talk to lots of people who have issues with TPAs, I hear a lot of problems and not a lot of solutions,” he said.
“That happens quite often in the game, but I’m really conscious that the club CEO’s want to have a strong voice in how we do this.
“It’s why I’m looking forward to discussion with them next week.
“The RLPA have been very good and open about the concept of change.
“We are going to welcome those discussions with Ian and his team — because it’s clear we need to make some changes.”
Parramatta CEO Bernie Gurr publicly backed a salary cap for third party deals prior to his arrival at the Eels in 2016.
Gurr believes a cap would help create an equal system.
“I don’t know what that number for a cap is, but we’d need to do some detailed financial modelling around how that would work,” Gurr said.
“But conceptually I think it works.
“It will be something I’m sure we will discuss with the CEO group.”
Despite conceding the current third party system isn’t perfect, Greenberg said he was encouraged by the game’s stars earning extra income outside of their contract fee.
“When I see Billy Slater on a billboard in Melbourne promoting a company, I think that is a good thing for Billy and a great thing for the game,” he said.
“So we need to balance our expectations about seeing our elite athletes and the stars of the game continuing to derive additional income — which also sets them up for their careers after football — against some of the challenges the current system has
“The clubs and the RLPA are open for the discussion now, as am I, and I would hope that we’d spend a few months in the beginning part of this year finding ways to come up with a new system.”
