NRL confirm salary cap for season 2023

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The National Rugby League (NRL) is excited to announce the NRL and NRLW salary cap for season 2023 at a new record-breaking level for both male and female players.

The 2023 NRL Premiership salary cap will increase to $12.1m in 2023 from $9.6m in 2022, a 25% increase.

The cap for top 30 players will increase to a historic high of $11.45 million, a 22% increase from the 2022 salary cap.

The development list will increase from $240,000 to $650,000, capturing the relevant development player payments.

The 2023 NRL Women's Premiership's salary cap will increase by 153% to $884,000. 

To ensure players share in this unprecedented increase, the NRL has announced that the minimum salary for all male players in a club's top 30 NRL squad will grow to $120,000.

As a result of today's announcement, players who have the standard form ratchet clause in their playing contract will receive an 18% increase to their playing fee, with the increase to be effective from 1 November, resulting in a well-timed year-end bonus. 

With the welcome addition of the Dolphins to the NRL Premiership and the NRLW Premiership expanding to a 10-team competition with the inclusion of the Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers, more elite players will be part of the rugby league family than ever before and will share in these significant pay increases.

Whilst the RLPA and NRL continue negotiations, the parties had extended the current amended CBA. 

The above increases will be in addition to the players' entitlements under the current amended CBA while the parties continue negotiations in good faith.