The NRL's fabled war chest, the stash of cash set aside to recruit and retain the best athletes in the world, has been scrapped before it could ever be used.

From the moment former NRL chief executive Dave Smith trumpeted the establishment of a fighting fund to pursue players from rival codes in May 2014, speculation has been rife about who would qualify for the honour.

Candidate: Sonny Bill Williams was one of the high-profile athletes in other codes mentioned as among the calibre of athletes worthy of consideration for the extra cash. Credit:Getty Images

Smith's vision was to use his discretionary powers on a once-in-a-generation athlete rugby league couldn't afford to lose or to attract a marquee man capable of dragging huge audiences with him via a code switch.

Smith's successor, Todd Greenberg, has never been a fan of the idea and has already ruled out using the war chest to ensure Jarryd Hayne returns to the game that made him famous.