The NRL and its players have finally reached an agreement on pay, putting to an end more than 16 months of negotiations.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg Photo: Photosport
CEO Todd Greenberg and Rugby League Players Association counterpart Ian Prendergast confirmed the new five-year collective bargaining deal.
Under the $980 million settlement, the players will reap a 52 per cent pay rise, the biggest in the game's 109-year history.
The average top-30 player's salary will next season increase to $313,000 and eventually to $330,000, while the minimum wage will be increased to $100,000 next year and $120,000 in 2022.
Players will also receive a 29.5 per cent share of forecast game revenue and a portion of any out-performance revenue - meaning the more the game earns, the more they earn.
Greenberg says the agreement is the start of a true partnership between the game and players.
"For the first time in the history of the sport, the interests of players, the NRL, clubs and states will be aligned - incentivising all parties to work together in taking this great game forward," he said in a statement.
The deal also includes the salary cap rising to $9.4 million in 2018 and more than $10 million in 2022.
-AAP