NRL clubs halt player contract talks as uncertainty deepens
With 184 players without a contract beyond this season, 182 more off-contract after that and no guarantees for the game’s finances, NRL clubs are facing unprecedented uncertainty in securing players’ futures.
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NRL clubs have halted negotiations with off-contract players as the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the coronavirus on the game deepens.
The NRL suspended its 2020 premiership season indefinitely to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has crippled world sport.
There are about 184 players without deals beyond this season.
There are 183 more players who will come off contract at the end of season 2021.
Under the CBA, next season’s salary cap was supposed to increase by $100,000 to $9.9 million.
But with the season now suspended and the league’s finances under threat without the incoming revenue of television broadcast rights, player contracts will come into sharp focus when the competition finally resumes.
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Players might be forced to wear some of the losses because of a clause in their CBA which allows the NRL to decrease the salary cap and other benefits if the game experiences a decrease in revenue in any year of the agreement.
The precariousness of the situation is also likely to impact some of the most high-profile off-contract players like Brisbane Broncos boom forward David Fifita and St George Illawarra forward Tyson Frizell.
Fifita, who has drawn interest from several clubs, has reportedly received offers ranging from $3 million to $5 million, including fresh interest from a cashed-up Gold Coast Titans.
The Melbourne Storm were open to releasing flyer Josh Addo-Carr from the remainder of his deal after season 2020 but that too could change.
With the league now suspended and facing a later finish than usual, there is also the issue of 2020 player contract expiry dates that need to be addressed.
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Players are contracted until November 1 but if the season is forced to extend into November or even December, alterations will need to be made.
Players like the Gold Coast’s Jai Arrow are contracted to South Sydney from November 1, having signed a deal for the 2021 season and beyond.
Until NRL clubs have a clear understanding of where they are placed financially most will not continue talks with off-contract players.
A player manager told The Daily Telegraph that at one club, any deal that was open for discussion only seven days ago is now off the table.
“Recruitment managers are being sent home, they’re not doing any deals that were on the table last week. They’ve been told to close up shop until the uncertainty subsides,” he said.
Another player agent said players are concerned about how the coronavirus crisis will affect their job security.
“I’ve had players calling all week worried about how coronavirus will affect their negotiations, especially for the guys off contract at the end of this year. It might be a smart move for players to consider taking a small downgrade now because no one really knows how the salary cap is going to look even next year,” he said.
One club CEO urged the NRL to take a ‘prudent’ approach to registering any deal that might be struck considering the uncertain climate the game is in at the moment.
“You’ve got to stop negotiations. Clubs don’t know where they are going to be financially, they don’t know if the cap will be the same figure that it is, you don’t know what it’s going to look like,” he said.
“I’m not even sure the NRL would register your contract if you sent it in at the moment. It’s not prudent.
“The range of outcomes in this unprecedented situation is so extreme, it’s moving really fast. You couldn’t register say a million-a year contract, what if the season is abandoned and the CBA is torn up and we’re starting again.
“It’s unfair on the player, that’s the other point too. Players are understandably anxious, a worse crime would be giving them a false sense of security.”
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While the RLPA has stressed a direct pay cut for players would be a final resort, Wests Tigers backrower Elijah Taylor said the entire NRL playing group would weather this tough period together.
“We are all in the same boat as players. We’re under the leadership of the RLPA and they have our best interests at heart and so we’re following their leadership. I’m sure they will come up with decisions that will benefit all players. You can’t just think about yourself, in these situations you’ve got to think about the rest of the players in the competition,” he said.
OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS
These are the 184 NRL players off-contract at the end of the 2020 season, whose futures are even more unclear now new deals have been put on hold due to the uncertainty the coronavirus pandemic has created.
Brisbane
Jack Bird PO
Herbie Farnworth
David Fifita
Jamil Hopoate
Jordan Kahu
Richie Kennar
Rhys Kennedy
Andrew McCullough PO
Anthony Milford PO
Corey Oates PO
Sean O’Sullivan
Izaia Perese
Jake Turpin PO
Ilikena Vudogo
Canberra
Luke Bateman
JJ Collins
Nick Cotric
Siliva Havili PO
Sebastian Kris
Jack Murchie
Michael Oldfield
Sia Soliola
Tom Starling
Matt Frawley
Canterbury
Jack Cogger
Adam Elliott
Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Kieran Foran
Morgan Harper
Kerrod Holland
Marcelo Montoya
Sauaso Sue
Isaiah Tass
Aiden Tolman
Brandon Wakeham
Cronulla
Jayson Bukuya
Jackson Ferris
Royce Hunt
Sione Katoa
William Kennedy
Cameron King
Kayleb Milne
Toby Rudolf
Scott Sorensen
Siosifa Talakai
Cruz Topai-Aveai
Braydon Trindall
Gold Coast
Dale Copley
Anthony Don
Keegan Hipgrave
Ryan James
Sam Lisone
Nathan Peats
Kevin Proctor
Tyrone Roberts
Treymain Spry
Sam Stone
Manly
Cade Cust
Brendan Elliot
Albert Hopoate
Danny Levi
Luke Metcalf
Sam Smith
Moses Suli
Corey Waddell
Tony Williams
Melbourne
Jesse Bromwich MO
Sandor Earl
Tom Eisenhuth
Nicho Hynes
Ryley Jacks
Cooper Johns
Felise Kaufusi PO
Max King
Brenko Lee
Isaac Lumelume
Justin Olam
Aaron Pene
Darryn Schonig
Marion Seve
Cameron Smith
Albert Vete CO
Christian Welch
New Zealand
Gerard Beale
Adam Blair PO
Lachlan Burr
Jackson Frei
Blake Green
Patrick Herbert
Peta Hiku
Adam Keighran
Taane Milne
Isaiah Papali’i
Leivaha Pulu
Nathaniel Roache
Newcastle
Herman Ese’ese
Aidan Guerra
Brodie Jones
Josh King
Mason Lino
Tautau Moga
Tyronne Roberts-Davis
Jacob Saifiti
Connor Watson
North Queensland
John Asiata
Gavin Cooper
Reuben Cotter
Mitchell Dunn
Kyle Feldt
Jordan McLean PO
Francis Molo
Tom Opacic
Emry Pere
Dan Russell
Tukimihia Simpkins
Shane Wright
Parramatta
Nathan Brown PO
Andrew Davey
Rhys Davies
Haze Dunster
Kane Evans
David Gower
George Jennings
Reed Mahoney
Ethan Parry
Jaeman Salmon
Will Smith
Ray Stone
Brad Takairangi
Peni Terepo
Penrith
Caleb Aekins
Dean Blore
Shawn Blore
Jed Cartwright
Kaide Ellis
Tyrone May
Brayden McGrady
James Tamou
Brian To’o
Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
St George Illawarra
Euan Aitken
Jack de Belin
Adam Clune
Jackson Ford
Tyson Frizell*
James Graham
Jacob Host
Josh Kerr PO
Tim Lafai
Joe Lovodua
Issac Luke
Mikaele Ravalawa
Tristan Sailor
Has agreed to join Newcastle but the NRL will not yet register the contract
South Sydney
Tom Amone
Cory Denniss
Kurt Dillon
Bryson Goodwin
Alex Johnston
Patrick Mago PO
Steven Marsters
Jaxson Paulo
Ky Rodwell
Bayley Sironen
Jaydn Su’a PO
Sydney Roosters
Mitchell Aubusson
Jake Friend
Ryan Hall MO
Drew Hutchison
Matt Ikuvalu
Asu Kepaoa
Lachlan Lam
Brett Morris
Josh Morris
Wests Tigers
Oliver Clark
Matt Eisenhuth
Robert Jennings
Chris Lawrence
Benji Marshall
Sam McIntyre
Chris McQueen
Paul Momirovski
Alex Seyfarth
Dylan Smith
Elijah Taylor
Total 184
Players with player options (PO), club options (CO) and mutual options (MO) listed
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