Stars will land on the cap-heap

Anthony Minichiello, captain of the Sydney Roosters. Source: Matt King / Getty Images

IF ever there was a reason for an urgent inquest into the NRL salary cap, this is it.

While the rich get richer, rugby league's foot soldiers - made up of more than 60 NRL players - have just five weeks to save their careers.

The list ranges from former Test stars, premiership-winners, 200-plus game performers and players on less than $80,000.

The brutal truth of the situation is that more than half will end up on rugby league's scrapheap.

The NRL have been harassed in recent weeks to loosen the cap in order to lure rugby union's Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper to the game, but this story is about the players that prop the entire game up week-in and week-out.

Despite Newcastle's Craig Gower proving at 35 in his comeback to the NRL that age is just a number, the likes of Anthony Minichiello, David Stagg, Matt Bowen, Luke O'Donnell, Ben Ross and Willie Tonga head a long list of players who could be forced into retirement.

An unprecedented number of elite players signing with clubs in 2013 is one of the major reasons for the talent overflow this year.

Sixty per cent of every club's $5.15 million salary cap goes to top 10 players from each team. The top three players of every club's roster suck up 25 per cent of the cap. That leaves just 15 per cent of the cap for the rest of every club's top-25 roster.

It has been a seller's market for next season with the likes of representative stars Johnathan Thurston ($1 million), Robbie Farah ($850,000), Jarryd Hayne ($800,000), Todd Carney ($700,000), Gareth Widdop ($620,000) and Josh Reynolds ($600,000) in a position to nominate the biggest salaries of their careers.

A percentage increase of the recent $1 billion TV deal which was also written into the majority of elite players' contracts has also impacted how much money is remaining in every club's salary cap while the depreciating UK Super League competition and the poor English pound is no longer considered a last chance saloon for players.

After canvassing opinion from NRL club chief executives, coaches and player agents, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the faces the NRL should remember when they conduct an "extensive review" of the cap during the off season.

Steve Gillis, a player agent with over 30 years experience in the game who has managed the careers of Laurie Daley, Petero Civoniceva, John Sutton and Brett Finch, described the situation as tragic.

"It's a tragedy that these guys have contributed over many years to build the product and the value of the game for the gain of the new TV deal, but then they face getting squeezed as a result of the elite players getting a larger slice of the pie," Gillis said.

"It's something that the RLPA need to urgently address with Jim Doyle.

"I think we need to urgently investigate making allowances for bottom-tier players to earn match payments irrespective of the implications they have on the cap.

"These are the guys that have spilt blood, sweat and tears to encapsulate the new TV deal yet they're getting funnelled to the bottom.

"The game is rewarding the elite."

For the many players that are refusing to believe the dream is over, the next six weeks represents everything as they attempt to prove they are worth another shot.

Manly's David Williams is one player who looks set to continue his career in NRL despite still being without a deal for 2014. Manly are eager to keep the former Test winger, but attention from Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm could draw him away from the club.

The Broncos have also told Scott Prince and Peter Wallace they are free to negotiate with other clubs for next season while Souths' Andrew Everingham is weighing up an offer from Japanese Rugby union.

Players off contract for 2014:

KNIGHTS

Zane Tetevano, Matt Hilder, Chris Adams, Neville Costigan, Timana Tahu, Siuatonga Likiliki, Peter Mata'utia, Anthony Quinn, Ryan Stig, Josh Mantellato, Craig Gower

COWBOYS

Anthony Mitchell, Antonio Winterstein, Clint Greenshields, Scott Bolton, Glenn Hall, Blake Leary

PANTHERS

Nathan Smith, Ryan Simpkins, Cameron Ciraldo, Geoff Daniela, Danny Galea, Clint Newton, Travis Robinson

DRAGONS

Bronx Goodwin, Matt Cooper, Junior Vaivai, Leeson Ah Mau, Nathan Fien, Will Matthews, Matt Prior, Chase Stanley, Charly Runciman

SHARKS

Nathan Gardner, John Morris, Ben Pomeroy, Ben Ross, Jon Green, Stewart Mills, Mark Taufua, Matt Wright, Nathan Stapleton

RABBITOHS

Shaun Corrigan, Matt King, Thomas Burgess, Michael Crocker, Andrew Everingham

EELS

Ben Roberts, Matt Keating, Taniela Lasalo, Willie Tonga, Nathan Smith, Jake Mullaney, Pat O'Hanlon, Api Pewhairangi, Brayden Williame, Cheyse Blair, Vai Toutai

TIGERS

Marika Koriobete, Matt Groat, Joel Reddy, Matt Utai, Lote Tuqiri, Sean Meaney, Matt Bell, Masada Iosefa

ROOSTERS

Anthony Minichello, Sonny Bill Williams, Jack Bosden, Nafe Seluini

WARRIORS

Nathan Friend, Steve Rapira,Jerome Ropati

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