Cash-strapped NRL clubs could be lured into committing to the league long term after embattled ARL Commission chairman John Grant reportedly promised a $3 million pay day for each club.
It comes with a catch though: the $1.5 million-a-year deal over two seasons only stands if they sign their competition participation agreements according to News Corp Australia.
If they don't, the cash payout becomes a repayable loan.
Tensions between the clubs and the NRL reached boiling point last week when a club chairmen described a meeting between five other club bosses and Grant as "backwards".
Clubs are desperate for extra funding, and their frustrations with the NRL have led to rumours of a breakaway league being formed by the clubs.
As a result, all 16 clubs have agreed not to sign any NRL agreements until their requests are met.
However, the combined $48 million cash offer might be just too good to resist for struggling clubs.
Not all club powerbrokers are necessarily impressed though. One chairman labelled it as a "sugar hit" and Grant's way of "buying votes".
Another said: "The $3 million is a catch-up payment from the past. All the money from the last broadcast deal effectively went straight to the players.
"Clubs have been the victims from the last deal because we have had serious inflationary pressure on coaching staff and other costs, which we have had no money to cover."
The clubs are expected to meet with Grant again in November.
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