NRL salary cap fallout: Legal action threat if players are squeezed out

NRL clubs could face legal action if they are forced to squeeze out players after incorrectly estimating what the salary cap could be according to a leading player agent.

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CLUBS could face legal action if they are forced to squeeze out players after incorrectly estimating what the salary cap could be, a leading player agent says.

Players are in a panic with growing uncertainty surrounding next year’s salary cap after the NRL’s offer fell more than a million dollars below some clubs expectations. As a result, clubs may be forced to shed players to stay under the proposed $8.3 million salary cap.

Player Agents Association president Steve Gillis, who manages a host of off-contract stars including Alex Johnston, Ben Matulino and John Sutton, said contracted players may be look at their legal options if they are forced out of a club.

Steve Gillis manages off-contract Rabbitoh John Sutton. Picture: Getty Images

“There’s even been suggestions down the track of looking into players’ legal position if the cap was not to budge and clubs were over the cap,” Gillis said.

“Whether or not legally the players would have grounds to be compensated. No player should have to leave their club in the first place. If they do, they should not be out of pocket to make a move because their club blundered because no one could tell them what the cap would be and it was a guess-athon.”

The Sunday Telegraph has been told some clubs have shelved negotiations with a host of players until there is some resolution surrounding the salary cap.

Warrior Ben Matulino is another off-contract Gillis client. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Already the Wests Tigers have publicly prioritised recapturing James Tedesco and Aaron Woods ahead of Mitchell Moses after the salary cap fell well short of estimations.

It is understood clubs are still willing to negotiate at the elite level but some have reservations about committing to their mid-tier and fringe players.

Gillis said players had expressed concerns to him.

“They are very frustrated,” Gillis said. “They all want to know what it’s going to be. You’re talking about their livelihoods.”

Originally published as NRL salary cap fallout: Legal action threat if players are squeezed out