National Rugby League CEO Smith Supports Payment System To Recruit Marquee Players

National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith "has given the strongest indication the NRL is prepared to join the fight to retain star talent declaring his desire to introduce a payment system to recruit marquee players," according to Todd Balym of the COURIER MAIL. Smith said the purpose of the salary cap review was to "modernize" the system and create a formula to enable clubs to actively poach star talent like Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt back to rugby league and keep the likes of Sonny Bill Williams here forever. Smith said, "It's really simple for me, we want everybody to be part of our game. We want a system that is flexible enough to allow us to cater for that. That is why we've initiated the salary cap review so we will definitely look at it" (COURIER MAIL, 8/21).