NRL November 1 rules

[ozynorts]

Here is a good article about the rules around the November 1 signing date. Apparently players are fair game at any time as long as a club doesn't try to get them to break their current deal....

NRL transfers: Why Dolphins are free to target Cameron Munster
The Melbourne Storm may not like it, but the Dolphins have broken no rules in their pursuit of Cameron Munster reveals Travis Meyn.

Travis Meyn
and
Peter Badel
6 min read
April 6, 2022 - 3:59PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

The NRL has given the Dolphins the green light to target Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster – on one condition.

After years of confusion, News Corp can reveal exactly what the NRL’s polarising November 1 contracting rule actually is and what it means for the Dolphins’ pursuit of Munster.

The Redcliffe-based Dolphins, who will enter the NRL in 2023, are breaking no rules by pursuing Munster now for the 2024 season – when he comes off-contract with Melbourne – and beyond.

However they are not allowed to try and coax him out of his 2023 contract, the final year of his Melbourne deal, for their foundation season unless he receives approval from the Storm to explore options with rival clubs.

As it stands, NRL players are not allowed to formally sign a contract with a rival club until November 1 of the contracting year prior to their proposed move. The NRL’s contracting year runs from November 1 to October 31.

That means a player that comes off-contract at the end of the 2023 season cannot sign a contract with a rival club for the 2024 season until November 1, 2022.

However there are no rules or regulations preventing them, or their managers, from talking to or negotiating with rival clubs for any period they are off-contract.

A player is allowed to agree-in-principle with a rival club to a contract at any point in their future, provided they will not be contracted to their current club during the proposed term.

Despite ill-informed cries from pro-Melbourne media about the Dolphins pursuing Munster, the expansion club is breaking no rules as long as their discussions are only for 2024 and beyond.

“A lot of people don’t realise what the rules are,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.

“You can only sign from November 1 the year before, but you can talk and negotiate whenever you like.

“We are really conscious of the rules. We have spoken to the NRL to make sure we are across what can and can’t happen.

“We’ve got to put a squad of 30 together so we’re making sure we’re talking to all players that are interested in coming to the Dolphins.

“We haven’t been concerned by criticism because we know the rules. What it’s illustrated is a lot of people don’t understand the rules around when you can negotiate with players and managers.

“People want to criticise us because we haven’t signed enough players. Now we’re getting criticised for talking to players.

“We’re making sure we’re being patient and building a squad that will get the job done for us.”

While the Dolphins can talk figures with Munster, and even reach a handshake agreement, he cannot formally sign a contract with the Dolphins for the 2024 season before November 1 this year.

It is physically impossible for that to happen with the structure of the NRL’s contracting system, where contracts are generated through a central database. The contracts cannot be produced by clubs until they are allowed to be under the contract period rules.

The November 1 rule has come under fire from fans, with players signing with rival clubs 12 months before their move becoming increasingly popular.

The likes of Brandon Smith (Storm to Roosters), Reed Mahoney (Eels to Bulldogs) and Viliame Kikau (Panthers to Bulldogs) committed to new clubs for 2023 before the 2022 season started and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said it was an area to be reviewed.

“It is definitely under review, it’s an area we want to engage with the players’ association on,” he said.

“We want to have a system which is balanced and more structured.

“It’s important that we have a system which is fair for our clubs, provides our players with the opportunity to maximise earning potential and takes into consideration the frustration of our fans.

“There is always a better way to do things and the opportunity is there for us in the new collective bargaining agreement to find a structure that is more efficient and transparent that perhaps allows for an improvement on the current system.”

In an extreme example, North Queensland co-captain Jason Taumalolo is contracted to the Cowboys until the end of the 2027 season. However he is currently allowed to talk to rival clubs about his future from 2028, without being able to sign a contract.

An area which is difficult for the NRL to police is rival clubs attempting to coax players out of their contracted periods without the permission of their current club.

[JunctionBlock]

I heard Dobbo talking about it on the radio yesterday and he was saying the same thing. So anyone can talk, just no contracts will be registered by the NRL. Interesting.

[DIEHARD]

Thanks for posting. I’m trying to follow the Dolphins recruitment closely. The outrage from Johns was amusing. Just focus on the Knights mate.

[Titanic]

Talking to a Knights insider today who thinks Ponga is gone.