The National Rugby League and its players' union "are close to agreeing on a salary cap" of A$9.2M ($7.3M) for next year, "a figure that will prompt a mass shedding of players from clubs that have overshot the limit," according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The governing body and the Rugby League Players Association "made some headway during meetings last week that marked the first time NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has come to the negotiating table." The parties "are still at loggerheads" over the RLPA's demand for a 29% share of revenue, "the biggest stumbling block" in collective bargaining agreement negotiations. However, "progress has been made on other fronts." Another "contentious issue is the salary cap, with the clubs demanding clarity" to finalize their '18 rosters. It is understood the figure for next season will be about A$9.2M for a 30-man squad, "although there remains contention about whether several inclusions should sit outside that figure." In a bid to help get a deal done, the NRL has "budged" on its opening A$8.84M ($7M) offer and with "only haggling over inclusions remaining," the parties are effectively less than A$500,000 ($396,800) apart. While a figure of A$9.2M is higher than the NRL's original starting point, "it is well south" of the A$10M ($7.9M) estimate some clubs have been "working to" (SMH, 7/25).
