Salary crunch for clubs
was about $1 million less than clubs had budgeted for next year, throwing recruitment drives into chaos.
Club bosses are expected to wage war against the NRL if the salary cap is not raised.
It is understood the NRL believes that while most clubs are compliant they have concerns some have spent more than the proposed salary cap.
Clubs such as Canterbury and the Roosters will be asked to front up to the NRL and explain their salary cap situation after landing representative stars Aaron Woods, Kieran Foran and James Tedesco on rich deals from next season.
There is belief the salary cap will rise once the Rugby League Players Association puts in its counter offer, which is due in weeks.
In the meantime however, the NRL has told clubs to tread carefully with spending – telling them there is no excuse for exceeding the proposed cap in a letter obtained by News Corp which was sent by the NRL’s salary cap auditor Richard Gardham.
The NRL’s offer of $9.14 million includes a host of nonplayer payments including $200,000 for insurance, $100,000 for funding the RLPA and $150,000 for welfare officers – which clubs do not want to include in their salary cap.
“As you are aware we have presented the 2018-2022 draft salary cap to club CEOs and the RLPA as part of the current CBA negotiations,” Gardham said.
“The offer presented to the RLPA provides for $9.14m in salary cap and allowances for the top 30 players in each club (plus six Development List players). On a like-for-like basis this is almost 20 per cent more than the equivalent 2017 figure.
“Clubs were provided with the indicative 2018 salary cap value on 30 March.
“At this time, it is the NRL’s expectation that this number is used by clubs for planning their 2018 rosters.
“Any club that contracts in excess of this number does so with knowledge of the pro- posed 2018 salary cap as it currently stands and risks contracts not being registered.
“Any club which believes it is likely to exceed the 2018 salary cap based on current agreements should notify the salary cap auditor immediately with a plan to ensure the club is salary cap compliant for the 2018 Season.”
While the uncertainty surrounding the new salary cap has halted some club’s recruitment bids, others have remained active in the player market.