Newcastle Rugby League's salary cap will likely take a major hit next season in the wake of the coronavirus crisis despite the main competition recently being cancelled for 2020.
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The amount clubs are allowed to spend on players could drop by more than 30 percent in 2021 according to Newcastle RL chief executive officer Matt Harris.
Plans were already in place, under governing body NSW Rugby League, to reduce the current mark from $140,000 to $100,000 gradually over the course of a few years.
However, this $40,000 decrease may now all occur in one go and much sooner than expected. The final number may also be lower than first anticipated.
"The plan was always there to pull the cap back in stages," Harris told the Newcastle Herald.
"But I'd be shocked if it doesn't get to stage three straight away or even lower."
Last week Newcastle RL canned their showpiece premiership, which previously paused in back-to-back years at the end of World War I (1917-1918).
One of the key issues was a proposal to cap player payments at $200 per game.
Harris said Newcastle RL may have considered playing without all eight clubs but not enough were "confident moving forward" to commit.
"It wasn't necessarily one can't do it then not at all," he said.
Harris said clubs also raised concerns about a loss in sponsorship, crowd restrictions and viability for future seasons.
An alternative amateur competition is still being explored by Newcastle RL with a plan to play an open grade alongside the existing under 19s and ladies league tag.
Harris said clubs were currently discussing the prospect with players ahead of Tuesday's board meeting, but he was confident the "standard" would still be quite high.
Earlier this week the NSW government announced that community sport could return from July 1, meaning seniors can join juniors back on the park. Harris welcomed the call and said it fell into line with the July 18 date they originally set down.
Meanwhile, newcomers Kearsley, Abermain Weston and Thornton Beresfield have helped second division Newcastle Hunter Community Rugby League double their numbers to 12 teams for a women's tackle competition, which is due to start next month. Ladies league tag has 17 entries. Men's tackle looks set for six grades with mostly six sides each.
Group 21 officials have a meeting on Sunday night to decide whether or not the Upper Hunter competition goes ahead over 10 rounds this year, however, under 18s will likely be retained even if first grade doesn't get the green light.
Elsewhere this week, groups 16, 10 and 11 cancelled their main competitions for 2020.
Also, NSWRL announced on Thursday that participants can start training in groups of 20 from this weekend as long as clubs have an approved COVID-19 safety plan.
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