Newly elected Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) president Cameron Smith is confident of brokering a deal with the NRL for a fixed percentage of the code's revenue in their pay talks.
The Australian captain replaced Clint Newton in the role this week, saying it was a "natural progression" as the most-capped player of the current crop.
"Being one of the more-senior players of the competition, I felt that I could help the RLPA and the playing group, whether it's through my voice or my opinion," Smith said on Wednesday.
Smith said the NRL, led by chief executive Todd Greenberg, had been receptive in their discussions on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, with the RLPA seeking to change the way the game's revenue was distributed.
"At this stage, it looks fairly promising for our playing group," the Melbourne skipper said.
"Todd Greenberg and his team have had open ears towards discussions about what we want to talk about so that's a really pleasing thing to hear."
Smith wouldn't reveal the percentage the union was seeking, although their AFL equivalent wanted to earn 26-29 per cent of the game's revenue, with their deal still to be finalised.
As well as financial security, Smith said the RLPA was also focused on health and safety and off-field player welfare including ex-players and their transition from the game.
Smith said Greenberg's experience as Canterbury boss before taking on his NRL chief executive role last year had given him a strong understanding of the players' demands.
"We have a number in mind that we think is fair but that's up to ongoing discussions which will be starting soon," Smith said.
"Todd and his team have been fairly receptive from the talks that the players and (RPLA chief executive) Ian Prendergast have had with him so, at this stage, it looks fairly promising.
"Because Todd's been at clubland, he's been alongside the players and understands what conditions we work in."
Smith said the players wanted to be made "genuine partners" of the NRL so they could work together to improve the game.
"There's a lot of great ideas that Todd and his team have moving forward that he needs the players to be a part of to grow the game so we most definitely want to be a part of that.
"We have some ideas of our own that we'd like to share but, until we're made genuine partners of the game, that will be hard to do."
"We all love the game - that's why we play. We just want to make it the best it can be."
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