NRL star Johnathan Thurston believes Thursday's successful think tank at league headquarters has strengthened the relationship between players and the governing body.
In a first for the game, all 16 club captains sat with leading NRL administrators before the season launch to discuss key issues such as football reforms, player recognition and leadership.
The workshop was considered a key development in negotiations between the players and league central for the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which expires this November.
"I walked out of there feeling like players have ownership of the game - players want to have a genuine partnership in the game," North Queensland's Thurston said on Thursday in Sydney.
"We want to work with the NRL in ensuring that. They went through a lot of things while we were there. The players had a lot of questions that got answered.
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"It's obviously an important time for the players with the CBA and those negotiations. We want to make sure that we're provided the best workplace for our players."
The workshop is the result of a meeting between Australian skipper Cameron Smith and NRL boss Todd Greenberg last year in London, in an attempt to make the most of the launch.
Rugby League Players' Association president Clint Newton said the game's elder statesmen have become a pivotal voice for their peers since the implementation of the last CBA in 2012.
"One of the best things about the current playing group is we've got a number of the leading players that are 100 per cent supportive of looking after bottom-up," Newton told AAP.
"We've got a good opportunity there to keep working on that relationship and that inclusiveness, based on the workshop, that's going to be done on Thursday with the NRL.
"All the captains will be there - that'll be a part of what a genuine partnership looks like.
"It's going to provide a really good opportunity for players to be front and centre and ask any questions or seek clarity on anything that may impact on them or the playing group."
The major CBA issue remains the revenue share from the game, which has been at the forefront of the club chairmen's gripes with the Australian Rugby League Commission.
At the centre of the share is the salary cap, which stands at $7 million this year.
Thurston, who had expressed frustration at being unable to secure a deal beyond the end of his current deal this year, promised the union would be patient with the talks.
The last CBA agreement ran well past the November expiry date.
"There's a lot of issues, but I think the share of revenue is right up there. (Although) it's not just about the salary cap and making sure that the salary cap's right," Thurston said.
"As players, we need to be patient in making sure that, as an association and playing group, we get the right deal for our members. If we have to be patient for that, then we will be."
