NRL 2023: Bulldogs contract offer, Gold Coast Titans, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Phil Gould, Arthur Laundy, news, investment in a pub, NRL decision

Veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield believes the NRL has a huge call to make in the wake of the Bulldogs’ shock contract offer tabled to Titans superstar Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

Phil Gould’s Bulldogs have reportedly offered the 23-year-old a $4 million contract four-year deal, and an investment in a pub, in a bold attempt to pry him away from the Gold Coast.

The Titans skipper and teammate David Fifita became free agents following Justin Holbrook’s shock sacking, allowing them to negotiate with rivals for an immediate release.

While Gold Coast powerbrokers are reportedly confident Fa’asuamaleaui will re-sign, the investment opportunity in a pub could have major ramifications for NRL contract negotiations in the future.

According to News Corp, Canterbury-Bankstown’s major sponsor, the Laundy family, have made contact with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo regarding the potential offer.

“The Bulldogs and Phil Gould are having a big whack... the interesting part of this story and the part the NRL will have to look in to, is that their major sponsor Arthur Laundy is offering him investment opportunities in the 30 hotels that he owns across NSW,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“Whether this is salary cap compliant is what the NRL will be looking at.

Rothfield also revealed investment opportunities have been used in recent years by Storm boss Matt Tripp.

In attempting to re-sign several of Melbourne’s big-name stars, he was granted approval to offer an investment into betting agency Betr — which Tripp is a part owner of.

“There was a very similar case at the Melbourne Storm last year when a number of their superstar players were off-contract,” Rothfield said.

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“Their chairman Matt Tripp who set up the bookmaker Betr was offering investment opportunities there, I think that was okay by Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys.

“This case is a really interesting one whether it is an enticement to sign a contract and whether that fits into the salary cap.

“I’ve quoted Arthur Laundy... saying that he will raise 10 or 12 per cent for players, but if it doesn’t work out he will just give their money back.”

Laundy himself said that the Bulldogs have to offer a deal that no other NRL clubs can compete with to secure the services of star players.

The potential investment for Fa’asuamaleaui also comes with a guaranteed 10 to 12 per cent return, with Laundy offering his money back if the monetary gain is not met.

“It’s harder for clubs lower on the table like Canterbury and the Wests Tigers in recruitment,” Laundy said to News Corp.

“Some players will take less to try to win a competition at the stronger teams.

“That’s what we’re up against and that’s why I’m helping out.

Rothfield believes the contract offer could open a can of worms and NRL powerbrokers have a big decision on their hands.

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“I think the NRL needs to make a call because the Storm got away with it last year... other clubs have $12 million to spend, they don’t have Arthur Laundy,” Rothfield said.

“The bottom line is to drag Tino out of the Gold Coast to match the Titans’ money they need to do something extra special.

“It’s a really interesting story that fans at all clubs are watching very closely.”

He also said he believes every club in the competition could be in breach of salary cap regulations if the NRL were to audit every team’s salary cap operations.

“My line is if you don’t cheat you don’t compete... I’m talking about NRL clubs,” Rothfield said.

“If they (the NRL) did a deep dive, as forensic as you can get, I’m sure they’d find an issue at every club, because it is so hard to police.

“No one is saying the Bulldogs are cheating, no one is suggesting that but they are looking at alternate ways to bring players to their club and make a team that has struggled for so long a powerhouse again.

“I love the fact Arthur Laundy, a billionaire businessman, has such an interest in the football operations.”