Peace on horizon after new pay offer

THE ARL Commission has tabled a beefed-up, $1.347bn offer as NRL boss Andrew Abdo and RLPA chiefs met for talks on Wednesday to finally end the pay war.

The parties were on Wednesday bunkered down in high-level talks at League Central in a bid to deliver the new collective bargaining agreement after six months of protracted negotiations.

Peace is reportedly on the horizon in the wake of the multimillion-dollar NRLW deal, which provided a stepping stone for the NRL and RLPA to shake hands on rugby league’s first $1bn pay deal.

Top-secret documents, obtained by News Corp, show the NRL has upped the ante financially to prevent NRL stars striking ahead of the EelsStorm season opener on March 2.

It can be revealed:

• The NRL’s final offer has reached $1.347bn, a 37 per cent rise in total player payments from the last deal of $980m;

• The average NRL player’s proposed salary will rise by almost $63,000 this season – from $338,976 in 2022 to $401,823 this season;

• The NRL’s minimum salary will rise by 63 per cent to $120,000 this season, reaching $140,000 in 2027;

• The NRL has pledged to provide $115m to the player benefits pool including superannuation and injury-hardship funds; and

• Of that $115m, an extra $32m has been set aside by the NRL pending RLPA and player delegate feedback on how to distribute the additional funds.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo declined to comment on Wednesday, saying negotiations with the RLPA were at a delicate stage.

Sydney Roosters and Australian captain James Tedesco on Wednesday said he was hopeful the issue could be put to bed.

“We’re waiting,” Tedesco said.