NRL, Rugby League Players Association confirm new five-year CBA
AAP
an hour ago
The NRL and its players have finally reached an agreement on pay, putting to an end more than 16 months of negotiations.

CEO Todd Greenberg and Rugby League Players Association counterpart Ian Prendergast confirmed the new five-year collective bargaining deal on Friday.

Under the $980 million settlement, the players will reap a 52 per cent pay rise, the biggest in the game’s 109-year history.

The average top-30 player’s salary will next season increase to $313,000 and eventually to $330,000, while the minimum wage will be increased to $100,000 next year and $120,000 in 2022.

Players will also receive a 29.5 per cent share of forecast game revenue and a portion of any out-performance revenue - meaning the more the game earns, the more they earn.

Greenberg says the agreement is the start of a true partnership between the game and players.

“For the first time in the history of the sport, the interests of players, the NRL, clubs and states will be aligned - incentivising all parties to work together in taking this great game forward,” he said in a statement.

The deal also includes the salary cap rising to $9.4 million in 2018 and more than $10 million in 2022.