NRL

8 months ago

Corey Parker's idea to address cap exemption concerns for union stars

By Brayden Heslehurst

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NRL legend Corey Parker believes a market value needs to be put on star rugby union players as concern surrounding clubs taking advantage of salary cap exemptions for cross-code stars rise in the rugby league community.

The concerns, from figures like NZ Warriors CEO Cameron George, come with the NRL expected to revisit salary cap exemptions for rugby union talents, on the back of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Carter Gordon securing early releases from their Rugby Australia contracts.

George believed clubs, including his own, would try and find a way to manipulate the exemptions.

But Parker said the idea of Wallabies players having a market value could prevent those concerns.

“If there’s going to be more of those players coming across to rugby league we may have to start looking at what a market value looks like,” he said on Mornings SEN 1170.

“I don’t think there should be exemptions, I think they should all fall under the same salary cap rules as most people, but what that market value would be.

“The suggestion might be if you’re playing for the Wallabies, your value might be a straight $500k, that way we know going forward if anyone’s coming across and they’re of Wallaby-ilk, they’ll be $500k on your cap.”

Parker said if there weren’t specific rules with the exemptions for rugby union stars coming to the NRL, it would make it “very difficult”.

“You cant just be pulling rugby players left, right and centre as great athletes as they are, there still needs to be some rules adhered to when you do pull them into your squad,” he said.

“I think there has to be an understanding of what a market value of a rugby player would be in an NRL system or it makes it very difficult.”

Gordon joined the Gold Coast Titans today while Nawaqanitawase will join the Sydney Roosters after the Paris Olympics.

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