The NRL has been forced to remove information about player contract options from the game’s official website after threats from the Rugby League Players’ Association over privacy concerns.
The inclusion and implications of player options have been a major talking point in the game, generating plenty of debate around the future of the game’s biggest names such as Dylan Brown, Kalyn Ponga, David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Mitchell Moses.
It was a player option in Brown’s contract that saw his manager email rival clubs seeking expressions of interest during the off season. The result was his signature with the Newcastle Knights on a deal worth $13 million over 10 years.
In light of this masthead’s revelation of Jarome Luai’s secret player options in his deal, and the subsequent News Corp publication of all NRL player options in January, the RLPA emailed all clubs and head office threatening to withhold future information if the contract options of players were disclosed down the track.
“Regrettably, we are concerned about the publication of player contract options in recent media reporting,” the RLPA email said.
“Currently, all clubs can request an ‘off contract list’, which sets out the nature of options players have. To be clear, these are provided in the strictest of confidence. Frustratingly, this information has leaked to the media, resulting in commentary on our members’ private employment arrangements. From the way this article has been reported, it is clear that a copy of this list was provided to the media.
List of active player options in NRL
- Joe Tapine (Raiders): 2028
- Klese Haas (Titans): 2027
- Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles): 2027
- Ryan Matterson (Eels): 2026
- Will Penisini (Eels) 2026
- Jaydn Su’A (Dragons): 2027
- Jarome Luai (Tigers): 2027
- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans): 2027
- Dylan Brown (Eels): Didn’t trigger for 2026
“We are concerned with privacy breaches and have raised our concerns with the NRL, with the NRL sharing our concerns. If the individual playing contracts cannot be held in confidence, we will seek to limit the disclosure of such information to maintain the rights of our members.”
Clubs have previously been caught misleading their fans with information about player signings that don’t reflect the contracts they sign.
In 2020, amid concerns of Ponga defecting to join the All Blacks in rugby union, the Knights announced their fullback’s extension through until 2024.
A few months later, when the NRL updated its signing tracker page, it was revealed that Ponga had a player option for the final two years of his deal and could walk out at the end of 2022.
Knights star Kalyn Ponga.Credit: Getty Images
The Knights have since upgraded and extended his contract to remove those options, tying him down until the end of 2027 on a deal worth more than $1.3 million a season.
The Wests Tigers last year announced Jarome Luai had signed a five-year deal, but a Herald investigation revealed that Luai’s contract has an option in his favour after just two seasons, allowing him to hit the open market from November 1 this year.
“In line with the current CBA agreed between the NRL and players, player options cannot be publicly disclosed, including by clubs,” the RLPA said in a statement to this masthead.
“So, technically, announcements like the ones you mentioned would not include years that are player options. If and when an option is activated, that is only when they form part of the term of the employment agreement and can be disclosed publicly in accordance with the CBA.”
Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton.Credit: Rhett Wyman
As part of the recent collective bargaining agreement, the RLPA successfully negotiated for the non-disclosure of player options. Under the CBA, it is stated that the NRL and club shall only be permitted to publish the name of the player contracted, the seasons for which he is contracted and any future season for which the club has an option in its favour to contract the player.
It also states the NRL and club shall not be permitted to publish seasons for which there is an option in the player’s favour unless and until the option is exercised.
The NRL has recently updated its signings tracker page showing Luai off contract at the end of 2026. Fa’asuamaleaui’s options, which originally showed he was at the Titans until 2032, have been removed and the NRL website also now has him off contract at the end of 2026.
Moses also had player options in his long-term deal with the Eels, however the club recently agreed to upgrade and extend his deal on the proviso he removed the player options.
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