NRL clubs set to be given last-ditch attempt to re-sign players

NRL clubs will be given a last-ditch opportunity to keep their players from the clutches of rivals after a big shake-up to the contract and movement landscape.

Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

NRL clubs have been given the opportunity to launch a final fling in contract negotiations under a new rule which is set to give incumbent clubs 10 days to fight off rival offers for the likes of Joey Manu and Jarome Luai.

The changes were officially sent to clubs last week and take immediate effect, strengthening the ability for incumbent clubs to convince players to stay.

Under the changes, any rival offers must be lodged with the NRL. If a player has his head turn and indicates he is ready to accept an offer to leave, his current club has 10 days to change his mind.

Call it a hail Mary play. The NRL will confirm that an offer has been lodged with them but won’t provide details such as term and money. The clock then begins to tick.

The changes are set to have huge ramifications for some of the biggest names in the game given Manu, Luai, Moeaki Fotuaika, Bradman Best and Tom Dearden are about to enter the final year of their deals, when they can sign with rival clubs for the 2025 season.

Jarome Luai is set to enter the final year of his deal. Picture: NRL Photos

An NRL spokesman confirmed the change but insisted it was not a return to the ‘cooling off period’ which caused such angst nearly a decade ago, when Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans backflipped on a deal to join the Gold Coast.

“The new process does not involve a ‘cooling off period’,” the spokesman said.

“The new negotiation window is for a period of 10 days after a player receives an offer they would be willing to accept from a new club.

“They then have to give their current club a 10 day window to negotiate before they accept the other offer.

“Once the 10 day period ends, the player is free to sign with either club. Players have no obligation to accept an offer from their incumbent club even if it matches the offer from the new club.”

The game has flip-flopped on transfer changes in recent years. Initially players were able to change their minds up until June 30 before shifting it to a round 13 deadline.

Cherry-Evans’ decision to backflip on the Titans in 2015 sparked an outrage. Despite being well within his rights, Cherry-Evans’ move sparked a significant change to the system.

The Roosters will have final say on any poaching raid for players such as Joey Manu Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Josh Papalii was another player to take advantage of the rule when he opted against fulfilling his commitment to Parramatta and instead stayed with Canberra.

The Cherry-Evans backlash prompted the introduction of a 10-day cooling off period where players could back out of deals. Clubs were unable to announce the signing until the 10-days expired.

That was scrapped ahead of the 2018 season with players unable to have a change of heart.

“These changes to the contracting window were important to our CBA negotiations and have now provided the game with improvements that stakeholders were telling us they wanted,” RLPA chief executive Clint Newton said.

“This provides clubs more than enough opportunity to sign players they are trying to retain, while not preventing a player from securing their future in a high risk industry.”

South Sydney boss Blake Solly praised the change,

“It was something that came up during the CBA negotiations,” Solly said.

“All clubs believed it was a good move to help the incumbent club have one last chance to retain a player they want to keep.”

Knights star Bradman Best. Picture: NRL photos

The NRL will also mandate the November 1 trade window for the first time. Clubs, players and player agents will face severe sanctioning if they are found to have broken anti-tampering rules.

Under the old system players and their agent could negotiate with clubs at any time, but could only sign a contract with a rival once they enter the final year of their existing deal on November 1.

Now they are unable to negotiate with players from rival clubs until November 1.