The National Rugby League will "table a financial offer to its players that sends rugby league wages soaring into the stratosphere," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. The average wage is "expected to exceed" A$300,000 ($230,200). The minimum wage is "likely to rise to" A$100,000 ($76,700) for the top-30 players at each club. Million-dollar contracts are "likely to become the norm rather than the exception for the game's elite from next season and beyond." The NRL's offer, which was finalized Wednesday night and will be confirmed during a meeting involving the Rugby League Players Association and club and NRL "powerbrokers," will be equivalent to 26% of the game's revenue. That equates to a salary cap of about A$9.75M ($7.48M), although that figure is "likely to include an increase in the long-serving player allowance" and an amount of A$300,000 which will be set aside to contract six rookies outside the top-30 players. The RLPA is "likely to pursue a higher percentage as it attempts to strike a deal which meets the expectation of its players and reflects a desire to have a genuine partnership with the governing body." Officials from the RLPA and NRL remained "tight-lipped" over plans for the meeting, but the salary cap will "finally be broached, albeit with slim chances the parties will reach an agreement" Thursday afternoon. Melbourne, Queensland and Australia captain Cameron Smith has taken on the role as general president of the RLPA and "remains optimistic the NRL will give the request for a fixed percentage of revenue a fair hearing." Smith said, "We have a number in mind we think is fair but that's up to ongoing discussions. We're not asking for anything more than what we deserve" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/30).