The Rugby League Players Association "wants to scrap the controversial third party payment scheme," instead proposing a "marketing spend" which it said "offers more transparency," according to Michael Carayannis of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The "murky world of third party payments has again reared its head" in the wake of suggestions multiple clubs breached National Rugby League rules to make payments outside the salary cap. Under the RLPA's proposal -- which is part of its "ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations" with the NRL -- clubs would be "able to pay players marketing deals outside the salary cap." RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast said, "It includes replacing third party arrangements with a marketing spend that clubs could use to leverage the commercial arrangements they are entering into in terms of player appearances and IP (intellectual property)." Despite last year's Parramatta Eels scandal, the NRL indicated earlier this year that it "wanted to retain the current third party arrangements" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/6).
