NRL Salary Cap

In 1990, the NSWRL introduced a salary cap system in an attempt to even the playing field of teams in the Winfield Cup.[1] The National Rugby League has adopted the salary cap system from its predecessor. A special team headed by former Australian representative Ian Schubert deals with salary cap issues and monitors teams on a yearly basis.[2]

As of 2019 the salary cap is $9.6 million for the top thirty players at each club. The minimum wage for each of those players for 2019 is $105,000.[3] Total funding in 2018 by the NRL to the 16 clubs was $222.8 million, equivalent to $13.9 million per club.[4] In 2010, following the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, the NRL introduced requirements for players and their agents to sign statutory declarations pledging their contracts comply with salary cap regulations, where previously only club chairmen and chief executives did so for biannual salary cap audits.[5]

  1. ^ Middleton, David (2008). League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia (PDF). National Museum of Australia. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-876944-64-3.
  2. ^ Budge, Dale (22 February 2006). "NRL salary cap guide". tvnz.co.nz. Television New Zealand Limited. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  3. ^ "The Salary Cap/NRL PAYMENTS FOR THE TOP 30". NRL.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ "NRL announces $46 million profit for 2018". NRL.com. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Players To Be Held Accountable For Salary's - Rugby League News - Dream Team". dreamteam.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2016.