Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) chief David Garnsey expects a gradual increase to the NRL salary cap over the next five years rather than a dramatic overnight boost if a $1 billion media rights deal is signed.

There has been media speculation that a $1 billion five-year deal would see the cap raised from $4.3 million to $7 million by 2013, but that would surprise Garnsey.

The NRL’s last rights deal was for $500 million over five years.

“There’s been certain projections bandied around, some famously that were disclosed to club CEOs and then disclosed by media people last year,” Garnsey said.

“I would have thought it’s probably unlikely the salary cap would go straight up to the adjusted amount to reflect that new media rights deal, as opposed to being stepped for that five-year period,” he said.

“The salary cap will grow as the game will grow.”

The media rights deal will be the first thing on the table for rugby league’s Independent Commission which is slated to begin on February 10.

Garnsey admits he’s not sure how much the rights deal will be worth or when it will be done but says the RLPA does have some expectations as far as the salary cap is concerned.

“If the figure isn’t $5.2 (million) by 2013, I’d be disappointed but it could be a lot more than that. I think it would be at least that ($5.2m),” he said.

Garnsey is more hopeful than ever the Independent Commission will become a reality next month.

“This date seems to have been put forward with a lot more conviction than the ones previously and I’m placing a lot of stock in that it will happen,” he said.