The Australian Rugby League Commission is due to discuss salary cap exemptions for NRL clubs signing players from rival codes at next month's board meeting.
If actioned, the move is sure to be welcomed by the Sydney Roosters as they target rising Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase
On Friday, it was revealed that Roosters coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis will meet with Nawaqanitawase this week to discuss a potential move to the NRL in 2025.
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The signing looms after several top league players were approached by Rugby Australia, their most notable acquisition being Joseph Suaalii as part of a bombshell code switch in March.
With Suaalii signed on a lucrative three-year deal worth $4.8 million, it is now understood that some of rugby's biggest stars are craving similar paychecks, including teenage sensation Max Jorgensen.
Jorgensen turned down an offer to play for the Roosters, instead signing a two-year deal to remain with the Waratahs and Wallabies when his current contract expires at the end of next year.
However, sources with knowledge of Jorgensen's contract situation told the Sydney Morning Herald that the promising fullback could seek close to $1 million a year when brokering his next agreement.
A deal to switch allegiances could be sweetened if the ARLC ratifies plans to provide NRL clubs with financial incentives to pursue the best talent in rival codes.
In April, after Suaaii's code switch, ARLC chairman Peter V'landys encouraged clubs to counter-attack by targeting Wallabies and champions from other sports.
"We have been looking at bringing in salary cap exemptions for players from other countries for some time," V'landys told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It was about bringing in players from America and other nations. It would also apply to players from other sports. And, yes, other sports include rugby.
"If a Wallaby or an All Black wanted to come over, we'd look at cap exemptions for sure.
"We have been looking at this for quite a while, and it's a good time to revisit this. It's something I'd like to see come in and come in now."
It is understood that V'landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo debated giving clubs up to $1 million in salary cap relief to acquire international talent from other codes.
The plan was to encourage NRL clubs to source young talent from rugby systems around the world, as well as NFL prospects in the US.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told The Herald that there was growing pressure on the ARLC to draft a policy as early as next month.
It is not known whether any new salary cap exemptions would apply to the Roosters and their potential acquisition of Nawaqanitawase.
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