NRL: Call to revamp ‘fairytale’ Origin-injury salary cap exemption

Manly were granted $350,000 to cover Tom Trbojevic after his Origin injury. They were unable to sign someone, MICHAEL CARAYANNIS explains why.

Tom Trbojevic injured during Game 2 of the State of Origin 2023, Queensland V NSW at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Pics Adam Head

Manly boss Tony Mestrov has called for an immediate revamp of the game’s rules when it comes to representative injury dispensation after his team lost star fullback Tom Trbojevic for the rest of the season.

As the Sea Eagles cling on to their faint finals hopes they have been cruelled by their million dollar man Trbojevic playing just 11 games after rupturing his pectoral in Origin II.

The Sea Eagles have not sat inside the top eight since round 13 – Trbojevic’s second last game for the club.

Manly were granted a $350,000 salary cap exemption to try and secure a player but were hamstrung by the tight rules surrounding the relief making it hard for them to sign anyone.

It was not through a lack of trying. The Sea Eagles sounded out a host of players including Jake Averillo, Lachlan Miller, Daine Laurie, Tommy Talau, Jaxson Paulo and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck but were unable to get a deal done.

Mestrov said the system had to change after meeting with the relative state bodies on Tuesday.

Tom Trbojevic ruptures a pectoral muscle playing for NSW in Origin II. Picture: Adam Head

“We need to come together as a game,” Mestrov said. “The NRL, NSW, Queensland and clubs have to come up with better options around compensation and scheduling. When you see two major players in the game out injured long-term in Tom and Latrell Mitchell during the Origin period then you have a problem.”

With the August 7 trade window now closed the Sea Eagles will not receive any cap relief for Trbojevic. Instead they were given a $300,000 payout by the NRL under its insurance policy to help cover the cost of Trbojevic’s salary. South Sydney received about $100,000 for Mitchell who missed seven games after injuring his calf at Origin training. But again the Rabbitohs received no cap relief.

“We received financial compensation but we can’t pick up players,” Mestrov said. “Club don’t want to let their players go mid-year. Depth is a big issue and these players may play multiple positions.

“We need to look at better options.”

Under NRL rules, clubs can only draft in a like-for-like replacement. Meaning the Sea Eagles had to sign an outside back. They are unable to use the money to pay an existing player.

Mestrov insists this needs to be changed.

“Clubs should be able to strengthen their squad in any position,” Mestrov said. “The NRL could also look at allowing relief for that replacement player internally. For us that would have meant covering for Reuben Garrick.

“There has to be some guaranteed relief around the salary cap.”

The NRL only introduced the compensation policy in 2018 with the value capped at $350,000. A player must be sidelined for at least 12 weeks for the club to receive salary cap relief. If a club has filled-out their 30-man squad they can sign a 31st player but only if the injured player is ruled out for the year.

“We want to see the best players in the game play in the representative arena,” Mestrov said. “But if they get injured playing representative football, the clubs are the ones that suffer. And we’ve been without one of our best players for the rest of the season.”