NRL tightens anti-tampering rules to prevent clubs publicly courting players

2 months ago 17

The NRL has tightened its anti-tampering rules in an attempt to dissuade club officials from publicly courting rival players – an issue that was highlighted last season by Lachlan Galvin’s controversial mid-season transfer from Wests Tigers to Canterbury.

Galvin had been contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2026 but his agent informed the club early in the 2025 season that the teenage playmaker would not be extending his tenure.

Phil Gould made it obvious he was a huge fan of Lachlan Galvin, before the Bulldogs signed him after Wests Tigers granted him a mid-season release.

Galvin eventually secured a release in May to link with the Bulldogs, signing until the end of 2028 on a deal worth considerably less than the Tigers were willing to pay him.

Canterbury’s influential general manager, Phil Gould, had previously lavished Galvin with praise, declaring on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast in August, 2024: “I think he’s the best teenage footballer I’ve ever seen. I think what he is doing is absolutely extraordinary.

“Lachlan Galvin will earn more money out of rugby league than any other player in history.

“In the future, whoever has Lachlan Galvin in their side will be winning premierships.”

Lachlan Galvin playing for the Bulldogs against his former Wests Tigers teammates.

Gould’s comments were widely criticised by commentators for “planting a seed”, although he defended himself on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, saying: “How did I publicly court Lachlan Galvin? What did I say? I’ve praised a lot of players.”

Nonetheless, it appears Gould may need to be more circumspect in future after the NRL announced on Friday that new rules have been introduced to “prevent parties from interfering in contract discussions through public statements”.

The NRL statement said: “Clubs have been advised that the definition of tampering will now include certain public and private statements that could be seen as attempts to lure or entice a player to join another club.

“The new regulations have been created, in conjunction with the Rugby League Players Association, in line with the CBA [collective-bargaining agreement], and are designed to protect each club’s contract and negotiation rights during the term of a player’s contracted employment with a club.”

The new rules will come into effect on February 1. They will not apply to players who have been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

The NRL said potential penalties include fines, salary-cap sanctions and, “in the most serious circumstances”, deregistration of officials, agents and/or players.

Gould was not the only high-profile figure last season to publicly discuss a contracted player at a rival club.

In August, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett confirmed he was interested in recruiting enigmatic Gold Coast back-rower David Fifita, who he had previously coached at Brisbane.

“I don’t know what the situation is with David and the Titans,” Bennett told News Corp.

“If he is available, I would be interested, yes for sure. Until he gets permission to talk, we pretty much have our hands tied. If he comes onto the market I would be interested in him.”

The Titans duly granted permission for Fifita to explore his options and confirmed they had released him from the final year of his contract on October 29. The Rabbitohs announced they had signed him to a two-year deal on the same day.