Kangaroos players receive $40k. Every other nation gets $850 a World Cup game. That is set to change

The Rugby League World Cup is expected to be the last time Kangaroos players are paid $40,000 – and the rest of the nations $850 a Test – with the pay gap to be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.

This masthead revealed the glaring difference in Cup remuneration in August.

The ARL Commission negotiated the five-figure sum for the Kangaroos with the Rugby League Players’ Association when the Cup was initially pencilled in for France last year, only for organisers to withdraw because of financial difficulties.

The game took one step closer to international pay parity when all nations and players, male and female, were paid $3000 a Test at the Pacific Championships in recent years.

The ARLC changed the Origin international eligibility rules this year, which allows Queensland and NSW players to represent New Zealand or England – provided they still meet the criteria – to bolster the international game.

But when it comes to a World Cup, the Kangaroos represent the ARLC – not other nations backed by their own governing bodies.

ARLC executive chairman Peter V’landys was delighted with the payments his organisation secured for those players wearing the green and gold.

“I can only represent the ARLC, I don’t represent the other nations, and I’m glad our negotiations with the RLPA were able to land on the ‘sweet spot’,” V’landys said.

“I appreciate Australia is a wealthy nation, but there is nothing stopping the likes of England and New Zealand and even some of the Pacific nations doing the right thing [by their players].

“If it is a massive differential, of course we’ll look at it. This is just where we landed for the Kangaroos during this negotiation.

“You don’t want one nation dominating on the world stage, especially if it is contrived.

“If players want to represent their heritage, they are allowed. We’ve worked hard the last three or four years to grow the international game, and we’ll see those results at this World Cup.”

The problem for the Pacific nations is their respective boards do not have the funds to top up player payments, and they rely heavily on local sponsors and fund-raising.

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters recalled being paid $1500 for a Test win when he represented Australia during the 1990s, and said not one player had asked what they were due to receive this tournament.

Skipper Isaah Yeo said he would “play for free” for Australia, and in light of the game brokering a record $5.3b broadcast deal, believed it was inevitable pay parity for rival nations would be on the agenda during the next CBA.

In defence of the ARLC, the organisers of this Cup, player payments have never been this high, while additional funding was given to rival nations to help cover medical and high-performance staff.

Samoan coach Ben Gardiner said of the pay gap on Tuesday: “It’s not ideal, and the Pacific Championships is an indication things are changing with $3000 per player, per nation, for the men’s and women’s game.

“This tournament was built into the current CBA, and it favoured the Australian team.

“All players now realise that, and they’ll make changes to it before they agree to the next deal.

“They need to tidy it up. All our players other than Jazz Tevaga play in the NRL, they’re all playing at the same level as the Kangaroos – we have some of the best players in the world, and they’re sacrificing a bundle of money to play for the nation they choose.”

Samoa named its strongest squad yet, with Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Newcastle backrowers Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua, Sua Fa’alogo, as well as Manly young-gun Clayton Faulalo, named.

The RLPA said it “welcomes Asia-Pacific nations playing an active role in the upcoming CBA discussions about the international game and its revenues”.

The World Cup kicks off next Thursday when the Kangaroos and New Zealand play at Allianz Stadium, which is nearing a sellout.