The NRL is taking a bold stand against player poaching, and it’s about time. But here’s where it gets controversial: in the wake of the Lachlan Galvin saga, the league is set to enforce stricter anti-tampering laws, threatening salary cap penalties for clubs that publicly pursue contracted players before they become free agents. This move aims to clean up the game’s contracting process, but it’s sure to spark debate among fans and officials alike.
Let’s break it down. Under the new rules, clubs and their representatives will be banned from making public comments about pursuing players who are still under contract. This is a significant shift, especially after a year dominated by contract dramas, most notably Lachlan Galvin’s mid-season switch from Wests Tigers to Canterbury—a full 17 months before his original contract was set to expire. And this is the part most people miss: while current NRL rules prevent players and agents from negotiating with rival clubs until November 1 of their final contract year, clubs have often signaled their interest through the media long before that date.
Why does this matter? Well, it’s believed that such public interest can discourage players from re-signing early with their current clubs, knowing that a bidding war might be on the horizon. To enforce these changes, the NRL isn’t just stopping at salary cap sanctions—they’re also prepared to fine or even deregister club officials who flout the rules. Take Phil Gould, Canterbury’s general manager, who was accused of using his media platform to publicly court Galvin before the Tigers officially allowed him to explore other options.
Gould’s comments date back to last August, when he boldly predicted Galvin would become one of the highest-paid players in rugby league history, calling him the best teenage footballer he’d ever seen. Later, Gould claimed it was ‘untenable’ for Galvin to remain at the Tigers after rejecting a contract extension, ultimately leading to his release and move to Canterbury. While Gould maintained he hadn’t spoken directly to Galvin, his public remarks raised eyebrows across the league and fueled the push for tougher rules.
These changes, expected to take effect this summer, have been developed in collaboration with the NRL and the players’ union as part of a commitment to review anti-tampering laws in the latest collective bargaining agreement. But the Galvin case isn’t an isolated incident. Just this season, several clubs openly expressed their desire to sign Payne Haas for 2027, despite the Brisbane prop only becoming a free agent last weekend. Under the new rules, such public pursuits would be strictly prohibited.
Haas, who has yet to re-sign with Brisbane, is unlikely to leave Queensland due to family ties, but the situation highlights the broader issue of clubs jumping the gun. Beyond these changes, the NRL’s existing anti-tampering rules remain in place, including the prohibition on rival clubs negotiating with a player’s agent until the final year of their contract. Additionally, clubs cannot approach a rival team to inquire about a player’s availability without first obtaining the player’s permission.
Here’s the big question: Will these stricter rules level the playing field, or will they stifle healthy competition among clubs? And what does this mean for players’ freedom to explore their options? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s just getting started.
