The NRL will attempt to clean up the scourge of third-party deals by coming clean for the first time with how much all 16 clubs receive from outside sponsors.
The unprecedented overhaul designed to stop salary cap rorting also includes the induction of a new contract system which will require the NRL to receive every formal offer that is made to a player.
The decision which was rubber-stamped by club CEOs in Sydney comes in the wake of three brand-damaging salary cap investigations in as many years involving Parramatta, Manly and currently Cronulla.
“What we’ve tried to do is to put in more checks and balances to help identify any noncompliance with the rules,’’ NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said.
“What it also does is it’s going to require clubs, agents and players to jump through more hoops before they register a third-party agreement or signed playing contracts.
“For the first time I think fans, clubs and others will be able to see exactly the volume of third-party agreements that exist in the game and we think that’s a good thing.
“One of the challenges we’ve seen is some misconceptions in the game about the volume with TPAs which has caused some clubs to make bad decisions around the salary cap rules.’’
The NRL welcomes third-party agreements as long as the sponsor is not affiliated with the club.
There is also no limit on how many third-party deals a club can register with the NRL.
The Daily Telegraph obtained a first look of the 2018 and 2017 third-party values of every club, which will be made public today.
The figures make for interesting and surprising reading.
Of no great shock is both Melbourne and Brisbane dominate the largest portion of third-party deals.
Their lure as a one-team, one-town franchise and their elite star power are both major factors in their ability to attract just over $1 million in third-party deals for the Storm and just under $800,000 for the Broncos in 2018.
Conversely, the Eels — who were bereft of superstar talent last season, managed around $50,000 in TPA’s.
The Warriors inability to boast just over $200,000 additional financial interest in their players despite their vast geographical location is a concern with just over $200,000 in TPAs recorded for 2018.
In 2018, a total of $4.2 million in additional payments were paid to 94 players across 205 different agreements.
TPA deals for players are far-reaching and can be as simple as a boot, headgear or car sponsor to major commercial or corporate meet and greet appearances and work, for a particular business.
“We think being able to understand the proper picture will help clubs, players and agents,’’ Weeks said.
“I think the data we have illustrates clearly that the volume of third-party that exists across the game aren’t as great as some people believe.
“This has been an area that created a lot of attention among fans, among the media and a lot of debate around it is inaccurate.
“So we think that by providing more transparency and accurate information, it will take some of the heat out of the debate and that will only improve our compliance with the salary cap rules.’’
Weeks said the NRL had not contemplated making the full salary of players public, like in the NFL.
But he said a new contract registering system would allow the game to monitor any questionable deal that sees a player sign with a club for a significantly less amount that what he was offered by a rival club.
For example only, if Damien Cook had re-signed at Souths for $600,000 a season when the Broncos had offered $1 million.
“The system will require agents and clubs to lodge (the offer) with the NRL when an offer is made,’’ Weeks said.
“At the moment we don’t see anything until a contract is lodged.
“What we’ll see is competing offers that are made to the player before he makes his decision.
“We think it’s just another tool in our armoury to help us monitor what is going on with contracting activities.
“To the extent that there are some contracts that are done which are unusual in terms of players accepting offers less than other clubs are offering.
“It will allow us to see that.’’
