Every NRL player linked with move to R360 rebel rugby competition
R360’s interest in the NRL continues to grow, with a number of Origin stars being targeted by the rebel competition. See every NRL player who has been linked with a move.
Jye Gray has received a lucrative $2.4 million offer from R360 with South Sydney facing a huge battle to retain the Rabbitohs rising star.
This masthead can reveal rugby’s cashed-up breakaway league has tabled a three-year deal worth at least $800,000 a season for Gray, demonstrating the fiscal power of the R360 revolution.
Parramatta ace Zac Lomax stands to earn even more than Gray, with the NSW Origin flyer to pocket more than $3 million if he opts to switch codes.
R360 representatives have informed NRL player agents the radical competition plans to kick-off in October next year and the full spending power of the controversial movement can now be laid bare.
Gray stands to make more than double his current salary at Souths by quitting the NRL, while Lomax has been offered north of $1 million to embark on a bold new rugby union adventure with R360.
Gray has been one of Souths’ breakout young guns and the Rabbitohs are keen to extend him beyond 2026, when the 21-year-old comes off-contract.
Rabbitohs hierarchy are aware of the mega offer put to Gray, which has been tabled in American dollars (in excess of US$500,000).
South Sydney are resigned to losing Gray if his decision is motivated solely by money, but Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly vowed to do everything possible to keep the former Broncos development rookie in the NRL.
“Jye was our Players’ Player this season,” Solly said.
“His development on and off the field over the last two seasons has been exceptional.
“We would love him to stay at the club long-term and continue that development to make a big contribution to our success.
“But we also understand that if the salaries being discussed in R360 are true, Jye faces a difficult decision.”
Another carrot for NRL players is the prospect of receiving tax-free payments if they relocate to Dubai, with the proposed six men’s teams to be registered to the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation.
An NRL player earning $800,000 a season pays around $343,000 in tax annually to the Australian government.
Across the duration of a three-year deal, tax-free, Gray could pocket an extra $1.02 million by playing R360.
Solly concedes Gray, who has scored 12 tries from 32 games for the Rabbitohs and proved a clever fullback understudy to Latrell Mitchell, would be taking a risk by defecting to R360.
“Unfortunately we have minimal information on R360, and some of the rumours are hard to believe,” Solly said.
“For example, the concept of the salaries being ‘tax-free’ is very speculative and there seems to be a lot of uncertainty around the competition.
“Players go into an R360 draft and compared to the security that they have in the NRL and under their CBA, it would be a leap into the unknown.”
Here’s every player linked to R360 so far:
• Tolu Koula is in the sights of rebel rugby union competition R360 - Koula has an option in his contract for the 2027 season.
• The Storm are resigned to fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen making the switch once his current contract comes to an end next year.
• Zac Lomax is under contract at the Eels until 2028, but it is understood the NSW star has informed Parramatta of his desire to take up a lucrative R360 deal.
• Payne Haas is off contract at the end of next season and has been linked to R360, but the Broncos star has denied any discussions. The Broncos are locked in contract talks and his next deal is likely to be worth $1.5m, but that could be dwarfed by what R360 offers.
• Jye Gray, who only became a consistent first grader at Souths this season, has received a lucrative $2.4 million offer from R360.
• Both Reece Walsh and Nathan Cleary have been targeted by the rebel competition, as have Xavier Coates and Deine Mariner.
• Nelson Asofa-Solomona is under contract but it is believed the Storm were open to allowing him to join R360.
• Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has already committed to the concept as he comes off contract at the end of next season.
• Sharks fullback Will Kennedy has been linked but failed to attract interest from organisers, before taking a pay-cut to re-sign with Cronulla.
• Herbie Farnworth was another off contract at the end of 2026, and while there was no official R360 link, speculation of his signing was put to bed after the centre extended with the Dolphins.
• Newcastle try-scorer Dom Young and Parramatta flyer Josh Addo-Carr have become the latest players to field interest from R360. Addo-Carr is contracted until the end of 2026, while Young is contracted until the end of 2027.
• Sydney Roosters NRLW star Jessica Sergis is also on R360’s radar.
Originally published as Every NRL player linked with move to R360 rebel rugby competition
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