The rugby league players' union is ready to accept a three-year freeze on the salary cap in return for a significant lift in allowances for long-serving players.

The $3.25 million cap remains one of the stumbling blocks to the game's first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with the NRL against any increase in the immediate future.

However, Rugby League Professionals Association (RLPA) president Tony Butterfield indicated the players could accept the current cap level if the long-serving player allowance - which currently stands at $100,000 - was increased to between $250,000 and $300,000.

That would give clubs, in effect, an extra $150,000-$200,000 to spend on players who have spent 10 or more seasons with the one side.

"That's one of the issues to be resolved in terms of the salary cap given that it is not going to move for another three years," Butterfield said.

"At the end of the day we don't want to increase the cap for the sake of increasing the cap."

However, the RLPA's initiative is unlikely to please all clubs, with the Sydney Roosters indicating they would continue to push for cap relief.

The Roosters have been agitating for an increase in the $3.25 million limit and threatened the NRL with legal action in December over the issue.

"Our view is it (the cap) should be increased just to keep pace with inflation and quell some of the player discontent," Canavan said.

"We'd be in favour of an increase in the (long-serving player allowance).

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP