Cash cut looms as Aussies share pay

KANGAROOS stars have offered to take pay cuts to fund secondtier nations as pressure builds on authorities in the wake of Fiji and Tonga’s World Cup success.

Australian duo Dane Gagai and Boyd Cordner have backed moves to reward minnow rivals ahead of tonight’s semi-final.

High-powered league officials have discussed taking up to $1 million from Australian players and using the money to increase pay rates for secondtier players.

Australia’s 24-man squad will pocket $50,000 a player if they win the World Cup – equating to a potential $1.2 million bonanza for Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos.

The seven-figure carrot has infuriated Tonga coach Kristian Woolf and Samoa’s Matt Parish, who last week slammed international league bosses.

But Gagai dismissed talk Roos stars are money-hungry, saying he’d happily sacrifice cash to ensure parity and the credibility of the World Cup.

“Everyone should be treated as equals,” Gagai said.

“It’s not in my control (the pay rates for World Cup nations) but these guys (from minnow countries) put in hard work just as much as we do.”