National Rugby League players "want the salary cap for next season to be more than the A$5M ($5.2M) ceiling agreed to by clubs and the Australian Rugby League Commission" and are seeking a five-year collective bargaining agreement, according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Rugby League Players' Association representatives met with NRL officials on Tuesday and "have scheduled further talks for Friday and next Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to finalise a deal." RLPA CEO David Garnsey "refused to divulge details of what the players were seeking," however, a club official said that they wanted to salary cap to be much higher than A$5M "and possibly as high as A$6.2M." Garnsey said, "I can't go into any detail, but I can say that the salary cap is one of the things that are currently under negotiation." The ARLC last week announced that the annual grant to clubs for next season would be A$7M, with A$5.85M to cover the cost of player wages -- including those in the Toyota Cup and New South Wales Cup competitions. The remaining A$1.15M will be used "to help pay for changes required as clubs under the new strategic plan outlined by the commission. Garnsey said that the players' union "was hopeful of securing a five-year agreement" (SMH, 11/8).
