NRL cutbacks: 100s of jobs lost as coaching staffs face huge cuts

More than 200 players and staff could be jobless as cash-strapped NRL clubs make drastic cutbacks as the true financial impact of the coronavirus shutdown becomes clear. READ THE LATEST.

Coaching staffs are going to be slashed from next year.

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Cash-strapped clubs face having to collectively shed up to 100 players and 100 staff members.

The NRL could ask them to slash up to 40 per cent of their football department costs, moving one club chief executive to say: “The luxuries are now over.”

The severe cost-cutting measures were discussed during a high-powered meeting on Tuesday afternoon between the CEOs, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks, NRL chief financial officer Tony Crawford and NRL salary cap auditor Richard Gardham.

Clubs were asked to present their budgets for this year.

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Coaching staffs are going to be slashed from next year.

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The clubs have a $5.8 million salary cap for their football departments, a figure which could be reduced to $3.5 million. Coaches have been warned their staff numbers will be decimated.

It can also be revealed:

● In a bid to further reduce costs, clubs might have to cut their 30-man rosters to 24, 25 or 26. That would leave between 70 to 100 players out in the cold;

● An average of between four to six football staff members at each club face termination. That’s a total of nearly 100;

● The days of paying leading NRL coaches $1 million a year appear over. Coaches earning that much might now have to accept $600,000 to $700,000;

● Having between four to six assistant coaches — as some clubs do — is expected to cease;

Some clubs, like the Rabbitohs, have multiple big names on big money in their football department. Picture: Getty

● The Canterbury Cup competition, which costs NSW clubs between $500,000 and $750,000 a season, could be reviewed or refined;

● The days of teams travelling interstate for two to three nights before a game are over. The players will be expected to arrive a day before kick-off and therefore not have large chunks of spare time to shop and have coffee;

● Clubs flying excessive numbers of support staff and board members — some take 33 people away — will also end. The NRL pays for 28 per trip and the rest travel at the expense of the clubs;

● Assistant coaches on significant wages — some earn $220,000 a year — will face heavy pay cuts, perhaps back to $170,000;

“It will be like we’ve gone back to 1993,’’ one official said.

“The luxuries are now over.”

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg (L) and ARLC Chairman Peter Vlandys (R) have told clubs to cut costs. Picture: Getty

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Before Tuesday’s meeting, Greenberg emailed clubs to say: “We want to consider a consolidated approach to how best to deal with coaches and football department staff during this shutdown.

“The opportunity to share some of your current planning forecasting and having a consistent approach to remuneration benefits would be a good discussion.”

Mass reductions at club level will also force the NRL to shed a multitude of staff from HQ.

Clubs are unsure when any of the cuts may begin.

Originally published as NRL cutbacks: 100s of jobs lost as coaching staffs face huge cuts