Some of the Australian National Rugby League's biggest names "are set to reap the rewards" of a possible $6M salary cap in '13, when more than 180 players come off the books, according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Among them are "some of the game's biggest stars," including Australian Johnathan Thurston, New South Wales Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney, South Sydney's Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess, Blues Robbie Farah and Cowboys Matt Scott and James Tamou. The new broadcast deal is "expected to be finalised" either late August or September. The salary cap is expected to rise to $6M or more in '14 if the Australian Rugby League's commission can match the $1.2B deal the Australian Football League secured last year for its TV and Internet rights. Clubs currently operate on a salary cap of $4.3M. The salary cap would increase based on the following parameters: To $5.1M if the TV deal is under $1B, $5.9M if under $1.2B or $6.6M if under $1.4B. Australian Rugby League CEO David Gallop said, "If they can't get $1 billion for the TV rights they are kidding. The ratings for the NRL are killing the AFL-- even the Toyota Cup" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/11).
