The NRL is taking a firm stance against poaching contracted stars, following the controversial Lachlan Galvin saga. In a significant shift, the league is set to impose salary cap penalties on clubs publicly courting rival players before they become free agents, tightening anti-tampering laws. This move comes after a year of contract drama, with Lachlan Galvin's mid-season move from Wests Tigers to Canterbury, despite having 17 months left on his contract, serving as a stark example. The current rules prohibit players and their agents from negotiating with rival clubs until November 1st, the final season of their contract. However, clubs have been found to signal their interest in players via media well before this date, potentially influencing players' decisions to re-sign early. The NRL's new rules will ban clubs and officials from commenting on pursuing players not yet on the market, with potential fines or deregistration for rulebreakers. Canterbury's general manager, Phil Gould, faced scrutiny for publicly expressing interest in Galvin, despite the Tigers' initial extension offer. This incident has spurred the need for stricter regulations, expected to be implemented this summer, with the NRL and players' union collaborating to review anti-tampering laws. The Galvin situation is not an isolated case; clubs have been accused of publicly courting big-name players before the legal negotiation period. For instance, several clubs openly desired to sign Payne Haas for 2027, despite him becoming a free agent just last weekend. The new rules will further restrict such behavior, ensuring a fairer playing field for all clubs and players.
