The National Rugby League Partnership Executive Committee has today agreed to lift the annual grant to clubs by $200,000 per year from $3.45m to $3.65m in 2011 with a further rise to $3.75m in 2012.
The Partnership has also agreed to a lift in the overall level of representative payments with the details of the payment schedules to be determined in the weeks ahead.
Both moves create a positive background for the review of the salary cap over the next few weeks.
They also follow a decision by the NRL to delay the registration period for ‘new contracts’ from the close of Round 13 to the close of Round 17.
“The work we have done in growing revenue through sponsorship, merchandising and government support has allowed the Partnership to look at the game’s future revenue projections and increase the level of funding for the clubs beyond what was already budgeted,” NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said today.
“It goes without saying that the players should share in the benefits of that success but it is also important to remember that the game must aim to reach a point where the level of the grant matches the level of the salary cap (currently $4.1m).
“That parity is important to ensure that clubs can become more profitable and that they can in turn afford to grow player payments further in the future.
“In the meantime we need to ensure that we are growing player payments to the extent that can be afforded and the current review process that is being conducted is an important part of that.
“Without pre-empting that review we expect that there will be a significant lift in the overall cap and in representative payments.
“We will secure a clearer picture around each of those areas in the next few weeks.”