Clubs at war with player agents over R360, Clinton Schifcofske , Zac Lomax, Eels, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Storm, Jye Gray, Rabbitohs, sanctions

Player agent Clinton Schifcofske is off-side with clubs and the NRL over reports up to 10 players could defect to the R360 rebel rugby union competition.

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R360 has been given the green light to kick off it’s inaugural season in October of 2026, with a host of NRL stars including Zac Lomax, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jye Gray approached to make code switches.

However, the common theme in these negotiations is they all share the same manager in Schifcofske.

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The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read revealed Schifcofske, a former State of Origin representative, has angered the NRL clubs for shopping his clients around to R360, some of which are still under contract with their current teams long-term.

“It is interesting with Schifcofske’s comments because he has been a pretty common theme in all this,” Read said.

“He has got Lomax. He has got Papenhuyzen. He has got Jye Gray. I believe he was involved in the Nelson Asofa-Solomona talks.

“And I have got to say in club land, people aren’t happy with Clinton Schifcofske because of the fact he has taken a lot of his clients to R360 and spoken to R360.

“Will Kennedy was offered to R360 and he is one of his clients as well with his management company.

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Clinton Schifcofske is the agent linked to a number of R360 targets.Source: News Limited

However, NRL 360 host Dane Ginnane pointed out that Schifcofske’s allegiance is to his players and getting them the best deal for their services.

“But isn’t it his job?” Ginnane said.

However Read pointed to Lomax, who doesn’t come off-contract until 2028 as the reason NRL clubs are wary of player agents negotiating with R360.

“Well yes, you would say it is his job, but we are talking about Zac Lomax, who has three years left on his deal,” Read said.

“That’s the one that really grinds people because you are talking to R360 about a player, who is under contract for three more years.

“And the NRL will look at this because there is a lot of pressure coming at the moment from club land to the NRL to look at this. To look at agent’s behaviour around this circus that is going on and clubs are not happy about it.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis, who broke the story about R360 commencing in 2026 and potentially bringing 10 NRL players on board, doesn’t have an issue with free agents joining R360, but drew the line at NRL stars agitating for releases while they are under contract long-term.

“It’s a big moment if we are having discussions about up to 10 players leaving our game,” Carayannis said.

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“The issue I have is contracted players moving on. If you are off-contract you can do as you please. You can go and come back. You are a free agent.

“But the test is going to be for the NRL, whether it is Zac or someone else that wants to get out of their deal and how they deal with that.”

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis questioned if the NRL should ban players from representative footy if they defect.

“Do you think we put a clause in where if you go to rugby union, there is no more Origin or rep footy?” Tallis said.

Carayannis agreed players that break their NRL contracts to join R360 need to be punished as a deterrent.

“I think if you are in contention for the Kangaroos and you say, I want to break my contract to go and play rugby, I wouldn’t be picking you for Australia or any representative side,” Carayannis said.

“If you are off-contract like Mark Nawaqanitawase, I have no issue with him playing for the Kangaroos at the end of the season.”

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Read revealed there have been suggestions players who defect to R360 should be banned for life, but he thinks that is a step too far, particularly for off-contract players.

“I think the emotional response today has been ban them for life and never let them back in the game,” Read said.

“I don’t think you can do that. With guys like Papenhuyzen and Gray, they are off-contract at the end of next year, so if they are going, they are within their rights.

“But there are some people at clubs that are saying if anyone goes to R360, you tell them they are not welcome back.

“But we take players from rugby as well, so it does go both ways.”

Tallis recalled a famous NRL player being banned for life only to return later and win a premiership.

“I think I heard that about Sonny Bill Williams, he will never play in the NRL again, but when you ahve got his talent,” Tallis said.

Ginnane agreed if they can let Sonny Bill Williams back in the game, it is hard to blacklist players who walk out on the NRL.

“He is the worst example of someone breaking their contract and we let him back,” Ginnane said.