Mal Meninga wants equal international prizemoney
KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga wants players from minnow nations to earn the same prizemoney as the traditional powers which would shake up international rugby league.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga wants players from minnow nations to earn the same prizemoney as the traditional powers in a move that would have dramatic ramifications for international rugby league.
Australian stars pocketed $50,000 plus a daily allowance for their World Cup success last year while players from countries like Tonga received just $2000 a game.
IN THE FAMILY: Jack Beetson in Queensland rep side
SUPERCOACH: Champion’s choice — Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Meninga wants a pool of money to be shared depending on finishing positions in tournaments.
The move would eliminate one of the major impediments to NRL stars returning to minnow nations — the vast sums of money they have to forgo to make the move.
But it would also mean Australian players would put at risk their prizemoney — rather than guaranteed player payments — in a bid to strengthen Test football.
“We want equity in player payments in rugby league,” Meninga said. “This way the Tongan players get rewarded for their success.
“Our fellas are open to having the discussion on how we can provide a bit more equity around player payments, and winning and success bonuses.
“We have spoken about it. My fellas would play for nothing — it’s the green and gold jersey. They get handsomely rewarded at club and state level. My fellas see this as the pinnacle for personal success. The payments are secondary in their minds.”
UNSUNG HEROES: The former players helping bush footy
TIGER SHARK: How Josh Reynolds nearly joined Cronulla
Only Kangaroos players are accounted for in the new collective-bargaining agreement, meaning any reduction in payments would need to be signed off by the Rugby League Players Association.
Meninga is pushing forward with plans for Australian to play Tonga in an end of year Test match — potentially in Qatar.
He wants the winners given a bigger share of the prize pool, with that scenario to follow for any future tournaments.
“If we’re playing against a Tonga side at the end of the year there should be parity around the money with players paid for success,” Meninga said.
“I’d imagine there would be a pool of money that players get for playing in an international series. Well, what our boys got last year, that money goes into a pool. The same would happen for New Zealand and England.
“Then you work out in a World Cup if you finish ninth to 14th you get so much, from fifth to eighth you get so much and then the more you success you the more money you get.
“We’re not saying we need more money to pay the players. It’s just distributing that money differently.”