Home / Sports / Chad Townsend Unpacks Roosters Contract Secrets
Chad Townsend Unpacks Roosters Contract Secrets
2 Dec
Summary
- NRL player salaries include superannuation, deducted from their contract.
- Players receive eight days sick leave and five parental leave days annually.
- Contracts detail representative eligibility based on family and junior football history.
Former NRL player Chad Townsend has given fans an unprecedented look into the intricacies of professional rugby league contracts. By dissecting his 2025 Roosters agreement, Townsend highlighted that player salaries are inclusive of superannuation, which is deducted from their earnings rather than being an addition. This means a significant portion of a player's stated contract value is set aside for retirement funds, management, and taxes before reaching their bank account.
Beyond financial matters, Townsend illuminated the specifics of player leave policies. Currently, NRL players are entitled to eight days of sick leave, three days for bereavement, and five days of parental leave annually. While his contract stipulated six weeks of annual leave, new collective bargaining agreements are set to increase this, with players earning between seven and nine weeks depending on their service history.
The contract also mandates detailed declarations for representative eligibility, including international and State of Origin pathways. This involves listing relatives' nationalities and outlining junior football backgrounds. Townsend himself noted an instance where a New Zealand-born grandmother could have opened eligibility for the Kiwis, though he never pursued it.
