Ex-Hull KR star’s determination to spark change could “tear apart” the St Helens of the NRL

Former Hull KR star Clint Newton has been at the heart of a lot of major talking points recently as the president of the Payers Association (RLPA) down under.

From salary cap to minimum wage, he has been involved in all of these discussed changes and even a change to how rules are discussed and changed in the future.

However, it is his ambition to increase the minimum wage in the NRL that could really damage one of the NRL’s biggest and best teams – perhaps the St Heles of the NRL.

Penrith Panthers, like St Helens in Super League, have built their recent success on a next man up philosophy.

The Panthers, like St Helens, have a brilliant academy system so when they let go of the stars they have made they have a ready made replacement.

Take the loss of Josh Mansour in 2020 after they lost the NRL Grand Final, in the years since they have churned out more key players in the backs who have more than replaced the winger who has been linked with a move to Super League.

However, this system could be undone if Newton has his way and increases the minimum wage in the NRL from $80,000 to $150,000 this will make this system much harder to operate as the young players being brought through would be too expensive.

Hence, according to Zerotackle, this decision could “tear apart” the Panthers and see the loss a tremendous loss of talent.

St Helens can count themselves lucky that they would have no such problem especially as the Super League salary cap ensures players who have not played professional rugby league before do not count the same on the salary cap.