National Rugby League players are expected to receive a one-off bonus payment from the game's A$1.025B ($1.061B) broadcast deal with Nine and Foxtel "under a proposal to be discussed during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement," according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. NRL officials are scheduled to meet with Rugby League Players' Association representatives Tuesday to continue talks, "but it is expected the parties will sign a 12-month agreement as time is running out to negotiate a longer deal." It is believed that "the bonus payment is the fairest way to to reward players, as a salary cap increase only benefits those who are coming off contract." The amount of the bonus "would be the same for each player rather than a percentage of their contracts," resulting in the stars getting the bigger sum. It has been suggested "that the bonus payments may be in the form of a fee for each match played next season." A meeting between the Australian Rugby League Commission and representatives of the newly formed NRL Club Council on Tuesday "is understood to have agreed on a figure for next year's club grant that all parties were comfortable with" (SMH, 10/26).
