Darren Lockyer says rugby league can at last realise its full potential for players and at the grassroots with the advent of the independent commission.

The retired Brisbane, Queensland and Australian great said the game’s athletes deserved to reap the benefits of increased revenue for the sport as a result of the historic move towards a unified body.

It’s been predicted that the streamlined nature of the new structure and with the help of eight successful business people in place as commissioners, players can expect an increased salary cap and significantly bigger pay packets within the next couple of years.

Lockyer said NRL players have earned the right to finally be paid as much as their AFL and rugby counterparts, but stressed the importance of boosting the coffers of other needy areas of the game as well.

“I think the general consensus is there will be more money coming into the game and I think the players deserve to share in those spoils, but there are other aspects that also need to share in that,” Lockyer told AAP.

“There’s the grassroots and there’s probably a lot of other departments.

“We don’t necessarily just have to increase the players (pay). That’s one way of making players feel more at home as an NRL player, but there are these other ways of making our players feel content and happy they’re playing rugby league.

“Everyone’s talking about the broadcast deal and that’s vital because we need to know what we can play with really and then it’s about using that money wisely.”

Lockyer said expansion was an achievable goal for the NRL over the coming years and said he’s certain the game is now pulling in the one direction.

“It’s exciting for me. I think you get the sense the game just got a hell of a lot more professional,” he said.

Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah said he felt privileged to witness the momentous handover and believes the prospect of a larger salary cap will be welcomed by players.

“In the past, you always had different boards fighting against each other and things like that but now everyone’s working in the same direction and I think that can only mean good things for the game,” Farah said.

“As players, it all depends on the revenue coming into the game and … with the commission now in place, that will ensure the best (TV) deal possible is negotiated.”