By Adrian Proszenko SMH
March 31, 2022 — 5.00amThe NRL is considering a new post-season transfer window to fix the problem of players appearing for one club while having already signed for another.
The NRL is about to commence talks with the Rugby League Players’ Association on a new collective bargaining agreement, and the salary cap is set to be the area of most contention. However, the other major focus will be on the best way to regulate playing movement between clubs after head office acknowledged fan dissatisfaction with the existing arrangement.
As it stands, players can sign for a rival club up to 12 months before they leave their current one, prompting the likes of Cameron McInnes, Viliame Kikau, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore to make early commitments elsewhere. The RLPA wants to maintain the status quo, but the NRL believes the introduction of transfer windows could provide a better model.
One of the potential options discussed at Rugby League Central is having just a single window after the grand final, meaning players could be forced to move clubs just weeks after making the decision to do so.
“That’s all up for debate and I don’t know where we will land,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo told the Herald.
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NRL eyes radical end-of-season proposal for player transfers
The NRL has floated the prospect of putting off all player contract signings for the following season until the current one is completed.
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