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The NRL has started major cuts to the game's operating costs with Nick Weeks and Liz Deegan both made redundant.

Two of the NRL's most senior staff have been axed as part of a dramatic cost-cutting measure to trim $50 million from the game's operating costs this year.

Chief operating officer Nick Weeks and chief corporate affairs officer Liz Deegan are the two highest-profile casualties of the move to streamline spending at NRL headquarters.

Both were made redundant on Tuesday.

Weeks has been second in charge to the chief executive since 2017, when he was promoted from head of the NRL's Integrity Unit by then-boss Todd Greenberg.

He formed a reputation as one of the most respected figures in rugby league having established the integrity unit and presiding over some of the most difficult issues in the sport.

"I have had the privilege of working with Nick for my entire career at the NRL. We have been through a great deal of change together and he has made an immense contribution to the game,' said acting chief executive Andrew Abdo.

Deegan joined the NRL from Newscorp at the end of 2019 in a newly created role to oversee the game's communication strategy and brand.

It's expected more cuts will be made in the coming weeks after ARLC chairman Peter V'landys flagged the financial autopsy back in May as the NRL sought to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

"The entire NRL organisation will be streamlined," V'landys said at the time.

"The cuts will be significant.

"We will slash expenses at the NRL before we even think about touching the clubs.

"We won't be short-changing the clubs - that is my commitment."