Incentives for NRL Clubs to Recruit Untapped American Talent at Las Vegas Combine

New incentives have been rolled out to make it easier for NRL teams to recruit players from the upcoming NRL combine set to take place in Las Vegas.

The successful participants of the NRL combine will be presented with a two-year contract aimed at luring top American athletes into the rugby league fold, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

It is anticipated that around 50 players will be trialling, with clubs receiving added motivation to sign unproven American talent.

The two highest-ranked male contenders will be awarded a training contract valued at $1200 per week for the year 2025, with the NRL subsidising half of the cost, and this wage will not count against the salary cap.

Moreover, the NRL will predominantly fund the travel expenses for the top two male athletes to come to Australia, covering return flights from the United States and two weeks of accommodation.

Similar benefits are also available for the leading two female competitors at the combine.

Catch the live and free coverage of the 2025 NRL premiership on Nine and 9Now.

However, clubs aiming to secure the NRL’s backing will need to provide a club option for a 2026 supplementary list contract to the players.

This contract is valued at $86,000, which will impose a cost on the club, and the second year will not be exempt from the salary cap constraints.

A number of athletes who have competed internationally for the US or Canada in rugby will be taking part in the trials.

The trialists will undergo a series of drills designed to assess their strength and suitability for the sport.

This will include exercises such as a 3kg medicine ball throw, standing broad jump, three-rep bench press, three-rep back squat, 20-metre sprint, and a 1.2km shuttle run, along with rugby league-specific benchmarks.