Incentives for NRL clubs to sign untested American talent at Las Vegas combine

New incentives have been introduced to make it more feasible for NRL teams to sign players from the upcoming NRL combine in Las Vegas.

The winners of the NRL combine will be offered a two-year contract in a bid to convert the best American athletes to rugby league, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

It's understood 50 players will trial and clubs are being given an extra push to sign untested American talent.

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The two top male picks will earn a training contract worth $1200 a week for 2025, with the NRL picking up half the cost of the deal and that wage will be exempt from the salary cap.

In addition, the NRL will cover most of the bill for the two winning men to come to Australia, including return airfares from the United States and two weeks of accommodation.

There are similar incentives for the top two female combine winners.

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However, if the clubs want the NRL's support they'll need to offer a club option 2026 supplementary list contract to the players.

That is worth $86,000 and will come at a cost to the club and the second year won't be salary cap exempt.

Several athletes who have represented the US or Canada in rugby will try out.

The trial athletes will be put through various exercises to gauge their strength and compatibility.

That includes a 3kg medicine ball throw, standing broad jump, three-rep bench press, three-rep back squat, 20-metre sprint and 1.2km shuttle run, as well rugby league-specific benchmarks.