Daly Cherry-Evans, Aaron Woods, Trent Merrin, Josh Dugan and Corey Norman were among a generous turnout at Rugby League Players' Association annual general meeting at Sydney Olympic Park, while players from interstate also followed proceedings by video link.

Melbourne and Test captain Cameron Smith was elected as the organisation's new general president, replacing Clint Newton, and the players emerged as a united front in seeking a fundamental change to the way in which the game's revenue is distributed. "The players want a fixed share of the revenue," Cronulla five-eighth and RLPA board member James Maloney said.

"We want to all be incentivised to grow the game. If we're genuine partners in the game and we're getting a percentage of the revenue then it's in our best interests to grow the game and make it better. It's not about trying to get anything ridiculous and reasonable. It's just about getting value, I suppose, for what we contribute to the game."

The players' union is yet to publicly nominate a percentage figure in terms of the share of revenue they are seeking but Maloney described concept in principle as "essential" to coming to a new collective bargaining agreement with the NRL.

"As a playing group that's what it is. It's not just this playing group. It's the kids that are playing at low level," he said. Negotiations for a new five-year deal are already under way and the players are adamant they will hold firm even if the NRL does not come to the table on a revenue-sharing agreement.

"There are ways we can sort of strengthen our voice but hopefully it doesn't come to that. We'd like to do it all civilly. We want to be partners in the game. We're not here to try to force it in a different direction or create a fracture in the game. We want to grow the game. It's just about making sure we're getting fairly treated in the meantime."

RLPA chief executive Ian Prendergast said the proposed pay structure was "the fairest and best system to remunerate players based on their contribution".

"Now we've got, essentially, a bit of a mandate from players we can move forward with a bit of confidence in the next phase of the negotiation," he said.

Prendergast also hailed the election of Smith as the RLPA's new figurehead.

"It's a huge coup for the association," he said. "Now he's not only speaking on his behalf as Australian captain and Melbourne Storm captain but as the general president of the RLPA."