NRL 2023: Women’s State of Origin earnings revealed as pay war finally ends

The NRL and players union have averted another pay war after agreeing that female players will receive a massive pay increase in this year’s State of Origin series.

The parties were initially apart on Origin payments for women after the NRL offered $15,000 per match, more than the Rugby League Players Association had tabled in their peace proposal last week.

The union had initially suggested a minimum payment of $12,500. Not surprisingly, they confirmed they were comfortable with $15,000 for the female players on Friday, removing another sticking point in negotiations between the parties.

The women’s Origin series is set to begin next week — the day after the opening game of the men’s series. Female players are the big winners, with their payments increasing from $6,000 last year.

The men are set to receive $30,000 per match this season — the same amount they received before the Covid crisis prompted cuts across the game.

The women’s game will feature two State of Origin games this year. If they each win one match, the victor will be determined by aggregate score over the series.

TIGERS LEAVE BROOKS HANGING ON CONTRACT CALL

Luke Brooks is still waiting for the Tigers to come through with the offer coach Tim Sheens said would happen this week.

Sheens has spoken glowingly of the off-contract Brooks in recent weeks and has made it known publicly and privately that he wants to keep Brooks at the club long-term.

The only problem? It is understood some don’t share the same level of keenness as Sheens to keep Brooks at the club. Regardless there should be an offer made to Brooks in coming days.

Sheens said the club would use the bye period this week to officially lodge a formal offer for Brooks. Brooks is on the final year of a deal worth about $1.1 million. He knows his next contract will be worth a bit more than half that.

While Sheens wants Brooks to stay at the club, it is unclear what Brooks wants to do. At 28 and with 200 top grade games to his name there is no doubt plenty of life left in Brooks.

The Tigers might not be left with many options if Brooks leaves. They have already been rejected by Mitchell Moses, Mitchell Pearce, Cameron Munster and Shaun Johnson in recent months.

The injured Adam Doueihi is the only half they have contracted next season.

REVEALED: DRAGONS, RYLES MEET AS DECISION LOOMS

Dragons coach in waiting Jason Ryles held a crucial meeting with St George Illawarra powerbrokers this week as both parties inch towards a decision.

Sport Confidential has learnt Ryles met with St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb and head of football Ben Haran on Tuesday while the Roosters took some time out because of the bye.

In the coming days it is understood the Dragons board will meet to fast-track a decision on the club’s long-term coach. It will be there where they decide if they will agree to some of Ryles’ terms which includes a long-term deal.

The Dragons want stability in their deal to Ryles but are hesitant to offer a straight up five year deal. The fifth year could be dependent on rules or a capped payout should the move quickly backfire.

Despite some external suggestions that the deal was on the cusp of falling over, the Dragons are still of the belief that Ryles wants to coach the club next season. The Dragons too have Ryles as its No.1 target but have kept the door ajar for either Dean Young or Ben Hornby to rocket into calculations should they fail to reach a deal with Ryles.

Young met with Dragons officials last week while Hornby – who shares the same agent as Ryles – would again come into the frame if Ryles is out of the race.

Ryles wants ex-teammate and Canterbury’s head of pathways Shane Millard to join him at the club while former coach Nathan Brown has also been linked to a role.

Ryles is unlikely to see out the season at the Roosters. Some at the club are privately frustrated with how the negotiations between Ryles and the Dragons have played out and may ask him to pack his bags immediately. Roosters coach Trent Robinson saved him from being shown the door earlier this month but the pressure is mounting on Ryles to stay on as the club’s defensive coach.

Even if he does not secure the Dragons job he won’t be at the Roosters next year.

Interim Dragons coach Ryan Carr – who has another 12 months left on his deal – has spoken publicly about wanting to one day be a head coach.

“100 per cent,” Carr said before Thursday’s clash against the Dolphins. “Like any coach in this game that’s a goal for everyone to try and aspire to do.”

Carr was a little more circumspect when quizzed on the job vacancy and if he would put his hand up to replace Anthony Griffin permanently.

“I don’t want to comment on that,” Carr said. “It’s not for me to comment. The club has asked me to do a job right now. I am going to try and do that to the best of my ability. Whatever happens next year, happens.”

CANTERBURY BATTLING TO RETAIN TOP DOGS

Canterbury is under pressure to retrain boom centre Paul Alamoti after the teenage prodigy held a secret meeting with North Queensland as he looks to secure a contract beyond next season.

Alamoti, hailed as the next superstar to emerge from the Bulldogs’ junior ranks, is yet to agree to a new contract with Canterbury with the club yet to secure the local product or fellow centre Jake Averillo.

Canterbury’s inability to lock Alamoti down has left him vulnerable to poaching raids from rivals and it is understood the Cowboys have been among the first to strike. North Queensland held a meeting with Alamoti and his family at Club Rivers in Riverwood in Southwest Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten, football boss Micheal Luck and recruitment boss Dane Campbell - in town for Friday night’s game against Parramatta – met with Alamoti and his family as the Cowboys step up attempts to replace the departing Peta Hiku. Hiku will join the Hull KR next year on a three year deal.

The Bulldogs remain confident they will be able to tie down Alamoti and Averillo – who share the same management stable - but at least one may be squeezed out if Canterbury’s salary cap situation bites.

Aside from their starting centre pairing they are yet to make a call on the futures of Braidon Burns. Corey Waddell, Nu Brown, Jayden Okunbor, Kyle Flanagan or Luke Thompson

MOVE TO REUNITE TPJ AND HAAS IN CLUB FOOTY

Tevita Pangai Jr says he would love the chance to be reunited with great mate Payne Haas amid persistent whispers that the Bulldogs are set to make a move on the Brisbane Broncos star come November 1.

Haas is off contract at the end of next season and insists his desire is to win a premiership with the Broncos, the club that handed him his first grade debut five years ago.

However, he is in no rush to finalise a deal and he will set off a mad multimillion-dollar scramble between rugby league and rugby union should he enter the final year of his existing contract on November 1.

The big-spending Bulldogs are believed to be among the clubs watching intently as they look to build a side capable of winning a premiership under Cameron Ciraldo.

Having already signed the likes of Reed Mahoney, Viliame Kikau and Stephen Crichton, Canterbury show no signs of slowing down after being linked with St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt and Haas.

NSW forward Pangai Jnr would love to see it happen after playing alongside Haas at Brisbane.

“I would love to play with him for 27 rounds,” Pangai Jr said.

“But I think next Wednesday will be good enough for now. Hopefully it will happen. It would be good to have him.

“But it will be a hard fight — I don’t think the Broncs want to let him go.”

The Broncos have begun contract talks with Haas and the hope is that they can strike a deal that takes him off the market before November 1, when he is free to sign with rival sides.

The left-field option is Australian and French Rugby Union, who have flagged an interest in the NSW front rower.

Haas wants to sit down with the Broncos and try work out a deal.

“My ultimate goal really is to say at the Broncos but at the end of the day we all know how rugby league goes – you don’t know what is going to happen, you don’t know what your plan is going to be, it always changes,” Haas said.

“My ultimate goal is to stay at the Broncs and help us win a premiership. I have been there through the tough times and it would be cool to win one there.

“At the end of the day I don’t know at the moment. I still have ‘24 on my contract so I have heaps of time. I am going to be patient, worry about my footy and train hard.

“I am in no rush. I have to see what happens. We’re in talks at the moment at the Broncos and we will see how the next couple of months go.”

Whatever the outcome, Haas is set to be a wealthy man. He has become the game’s most destructive forward in recent seasons.

“I have to pinch myself sometimes,” he said.

“At the end of the day I am doing what I love. As long as I am happy and my family is happy, that will be the make or break for my decision.

“It is not just about me – I have a little daughter and partner I have to worry about.”

FLASHBACK

In a week where the Tigers confirmed their plan to play more football at suburban grounds, the same discussions dominated headlines on this day 15 years ago. 17,500 fans poured into Leichhardt Oval to watch the Tigers beat Gold Coast 20-18. “Three games a year isn’t enough,’’ skipper Brett Hodgson said. ‘‘We love playing here.”

BLUE’S DRASTIC STEP TO BLOCK OUT NOISE

Blues debutant Tevita Pangai Jr has taken the unusual step of deleting his mobile phone web browser in a bid to try and block out some of the external noise.

Pangai Jr has been caught up reading headlines and comments in the past but has tried to keep a low profile ahead of his Origin debut on Wednesday night.

“There is too much (noise),” Pangai Jr said. “I am trying to lay low but my wife or someone in my family will call me. Even if you try and stay off social media or the media, I try and steer clear of it and not try and read it. But you have someone from your family who say ‘so and so’ said this.”

BLUES’ TO UNVEIL INDIGENOUS JERSEY

NSW Indigenous stars Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Jack Wighton have played a role in the creation of the Blues’ first Indigenous-themed jersey.

The Blues are expected to wear the jersey for the first time this weekend as they look to celebrate the people, culture and language of the Koori nations and their connection to country.

The design was created for the NSW Rugby League Indigenous artist Daren Dunn. Mitchell, Addo-Carr and Wighton, who has since retired from Origin football, were consulted as part of the design process.

RAIDER’S MASSIVE PAY DAY

Canberra back rower Hudson Young only agreed to terms on a new deal with the Raiders this month but he has already earned himself a pay rise.

Sport Confidential understands that Young’s new deal had a clause built in that gave him a bonus for playing State of Origin.

His debut next week is set to bring not just a $30,000 match payment, but also a significant bump in his contract. That could see him earn more than $100,000 if he plays all three games with his new five figure bonus factored in.

ROOSTERS LAND RECRUITMENT BLOW

The Sydney Roosters have signed the man responsible for discovering State of Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kalyn Ponga as they look to bounce back from their indifferent start to the year.

Former North Queensland and Newcastle recruitment boss Clint Zammit has joined the Roosters to help with strengthen their roster. He was sighted at schoolboys carnivals in recent days decked out in Roosters gear. Zammit left the Knights earlier this year.

NOT DONE YET

Corey Norman is continuing his rugby league career with the London Broncos. The former Broncos, Eel and Dragon playmaker has inked a deal with the Broncos who play in the Championships – a tier below the Super League.