Canterbury are expected to lead a push for an increased salary cap of $9.6 million next NRL season as the game’s decision makers get set to meet on Thursday.
Canterbury chairman Ray Dib on Monday met with counterparts from several other clubs including Cronulla, Sydney Roosters and Canberra at the Bulldogs Leagues Club in an effort to form a united front in lobbying the NRL to bump up next year’s cap.
The NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association are in the midst of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement for next year.
Several clubs, including the Bulldogs and Raiders, are believed to have overspent despite the governing body earlier in the year telling them to work towards a salary cap of $9.2 million.
The Bulldogs argue they were told by ARL Commission chairman John Grant last year that the cap would be $10 million and that the NRL has created an atmosphere of confusion.
The Bulldogs are under salary cap pressure after signing big names Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran and they have reportedly shopped around several senior players including Brett and Josh Morris, Moses Mbye and James Graham.
The Bulldogs did not respond to requests for comment however the Nine Network reported that some clubs agreed to put forward a salary cap proposal of $9.6 million to the NRL.
That offer will be put on the table when the NRL, RLPA and clubs meet at Rugby League Central on Thursday.
It’s been reported that the RLPA and NRL are set to agree on a $9.2 million salary cap but the $300,000 long-serving player allowance will sit outside of the cap, effectively giving each clubs $9.5 million to work with.
However that proposal is known to be opposed by several clubs including Manly.
Larry1950
Guest
Stop blaming the commission, the bulldog ts got the same advice as all other clubs at $9.2m cap but decided to punt on it going up if the clubs mounted pressure. Now they're in panic mode because they are over the 2018 cap. If they get their way, clubs who have released players to comply with the 9.2m cap should be able to renegotiate with the players they've allowed to go because of cap pressure. I'm sure the Broncos would like to keep Ese'e if they let Blair go to get a 3 year deal elsewhere, same with the Tigers & their losses. Bet a few players would be regretting signing with the dogs on Dessie's form as a coach.
mushi
Guest
Why would you think it would be sorted out by now? Neither side has the time pressure to force major concessions. If there is a genuine gap in expectations and methodology then of course it is still outstanding All major american sprots have lost games to labour negotiations. Cricket just had a staring contest. Why would the NRL be a unique fairy garden of perfect bliss?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Of course they are pushing for the bigger cap.These guys as well as all the other clubs were given an indicative figure back in April to work on ,meaning nothing more then. Most clubs were responsible and worked within these conservative guidelines, but a couple didn't ,the Bulldogs being a classic example.Now they want to be pulled out of the quagmire by pushing for a bigger cap.Who woulda thought. My view, saner heads will prevail, the cap with Greenberg and Prendergast negotiating will be sorted out in a far shorter time fame than cricket or the AFL.And the Dogs will either have to offload ,or not take up Foran's deal. I remember early 2000s the players were threatening to stop the Dally Ms. D.Gallop called their bluff, saying don't worry i just did, and the Penrith player in line for the award missed out.The players have legitimate arguments,but two things to consider don't screw the NRL to the extent grassroots misses out and the code is left with an empty cupboard,and don't get the fans offside boy punishing them for not getting your own way.
Fix the scrums
Guest
It could be a Rothfield fib, but the NRL haven't denied it to my knowledge. Unbelievable that the finals are a couple of weeks away and the clubs and players are still arguing with the NRL over money. You would of thought this would of been sorted well before now.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
thats a Rothfield fib
Big Daddy
Guest
NRL should be proactive instead of reactive. Could be going down same path as cricket. And they still need $30 million to balance books and the bank won't give it to them.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
which is why the NRLPA will be sorted this week. Not all 16 clubs have to agree on the salary cap number for it to be passed. The Dogs don't have the numbers to hold it up.
Mushi
Guest
Clubs who want x% above the cap in grants or they will lay waste to the ARLC
Emcie
Roar Guru
The RLPA are only one of the three parties that need to sign off on this, and by all reports their issues have mostly been resolved. It's a group of clubs behind this current push
Mushi
Guest
To be fair look at mlb, nfl, nba and nhl all lost games/seasons because it extended further than this
no one in particular
Roar Guru
It's because of the NRLPA. They didn't get their own house in order until about late June and the NRL couldn't negotiate with them. The cap number is currently in their court and should be agreed to by the end of the week Greenburg is useless, but this is on the NRPLA
Wayne Turner
Guest
Indeed - The hacks at the NRL should,have made the decision before this season started of the exact amount,not having this cloud hanging over the salary cap for the 2018 competition. NRL = No Real Leadership.
Millsy
Guest
Love your work Andrew couldn't have said it better myself?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree with this. The timeframe for clubs signing and re-signing players for 2018 started months and months ago.
Andrew
Guest
You mean there are Bulldogs players expecting to be paid on what they have been dishing up? We should all be getting paid for sitting through their games week in week out.
Big Daddy
Guest
$9.2,$9.6,$10 million what's the difference. The underlying problem to me is WHY they cannot make a decision. Can it be that hard. Here we are nearly into finals and these buffoons at the NRL have been sitting on this for nearly 12 months. They have a figure for their broadcast deal so they should have some sort of idea. Greenberg has been in job about 16 months and TBH the guy hasn't really aimed up. Sure the clubs have made commitment's but they need something to work with. Also 2nd tier needs to be increased.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So we can backpay Eastwood and Tolman. Brilliant!