The NRL has told clubs it will slash its own costs by 70 per cent over the second half of the season to ensure it can fulfil the funding commitments it has made to clubs and players during the coronavirus crisis.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and ARL Commission chairmen Peter V'landys addressed key stakeholders - including the 16 clubs, the states and the Rugby League Players Association - via a phone hook up on Tuesday morning.

The coronavirus has put huge pressure on Rugby League Central to slash its costs and they have responded with a huge reduction following the coronavirus threat.

The Herald has been told that the NRL, having spent $76 million to run its administration and operating costs for the first half of the game's financial year, will slash that spend to just over $20 million for the second half. That reduction is the result of a 95 per cent reduction in staffing levels, coupled with 25 per cent cut in executive salaries that the commission rubber-stamped on Tuesday morning. That will include a 60 per cent reduction in operational expenditure, with only essential services remaining.