Under pressure: ARLC boss John Grant. Credit:Christopher Pearce They are said to be dumbfounded the NRL plans to make up whatever shortfall there may be in club funding in 2018 in a sixth year – set to be 2023 – in which there is no guaranteed television deal yet in place. Grant said on Wednesday that given the quantum of funding being committed to clubs, the NRL had flagged in December last year in its final proposal, signed by all commissioners and CEO Todd Greenberg, that cash flow support may be required from clubs for the NRL, particularly in the latter part of 2018 and 2019. "We made it clear in our final proposal, and it was included in all discussions, that we would require flexibility from the clubs in assisting us with cash flow and they understood that," he said. "Obviously the details were not discussed at that time and this is, I understand, what Todd [Greenberg] and his team discussed [on Wednesday]. Iunderstand this detail has concerned clubs and that Todd has undertaken to work on other solutions that minimise any impact on the clubs." Grant said he had not attended the meeting because it was aimed at briefing club chairpersons and CEOs on the CBA negotiations before a final position was put to the commission for approval.

"This was, as I understand it, a scheduled CEO meeting to which, given activities over the last few days, an invitation was also extended to chairs," he said. "It was appropriate Todd and his team provide the briefing." Grant's deal to save his own position last year was at odds with many of the NRL executive, who warned him the game couldn't afford the financial promises to clubs. Fairfax Media understands the resignations of ARLC commissioners Jeremy Sutcliffe and Graeme Samuel were in protest to Grant's handling of the pay war. Grant can only be removed under the current ARLC constitution with the approval of both states meaning QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher would need to align with the revolting clubs. Hatcher, who is new to the job, is considered unlikely to take such a stance and didn't attend the meeting on Wednesday. Grant is up for re-election in March and is believed to have the backing of his fellow commissioners. The NRL's head of club services, Tony Crawford, delivered the news on the mooted change to club funding to chief executives after the majority of chairpersons had left Wednesday's meeting.

A spokesman for the NRL said there were no plans to reduce funding to clubs. "We advised the clubs that there are some cash flow challenges which will be addressed," the spokesman said. "The NRL starts paying the clubs increased grants from November 1 but the higher revenue from the new broadcast deal does is not paid until January next year. That presents some challenges, but we are working on solutions." The NRL has already taken out a $50m loan at the start of the year to alleviate cashflow problems and will seek advanced payments from sponsors to ease the financial pressure. While head office is set for another head-on collision with clubs over their immediate funding, it will have the support from some of those to drive a hard bargain with the Rugby League Players Association at the negotiating table over next year's salary cap. The lower the player payment figure the bigger the margin will be for clubs, which could have reasonably expected to have $4m in their coffers if the salary cap had landed at $9m. But that appears in grave doubt for 2018.

The NRL has slightly bridged the salary cap gap with the RLPA, whose original counter proposal included for a base salary cap of $9.1 million to be spread between 26 players. Another $900,000 would be added on top of for supplementary and development players according to the players' union. The NRL's initial base cap of $8.3 million was bumped up in its latest proposal shown to club officials, which will come under further discussion in lockdown talks with the RLPA within the month. NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg claimed the clubs were on the same page when it came to the CBA negotiations. "I can say that we believe we have all landed on a fair position to be discussed with the RLPA which has the backing of all 16 club chairmen and CEOs," he said in a statement.