NRL players are reportedly set to boycott the competition’s official launch and all promotional activity in a protest against the organisation’s delays in finalising the new collective bargaining agreement.
Cronulla’s playing group reportedly began the protest against the NRL on Monday after they refused to be interviewed or take photo’s according to The Daily Telegraph.
Veteran back-rower Wade Graham reportedly broke the news to photographer Grant Trouville who had set up all his equipment ready for the shoot at Pointsbet Stadium.
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The Dragons followed the Sharks’ lead on Monday night when the club cancelled a media opportunity scheduled for Tuesday morning.
A Dragons club official confirmed that the cancellation was part of the players’ escalating collective bargaining agreement standoff with the NRL.
Other NRL clubs are reportedly set to join the boycott as a protest against the NRL for the delays in finalising a new collective bargaining agreement.
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Other clubs are set to join the Sharks in standing down from the NRL’s content shoot before a meeting between NRL powerbrokers and the RLPA’s leadership group comprising of Graham, Daly Cherry-Evans, Isaah Yeo and Christian Welch.
“This action is being driven by the players,” a senior player said.
“The NRL doesn’t understand how unhealthy the relationship is with both the men and women.
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“This is not about pay. It’s about the way the NRL have lacked respect in negotiations.”
In light of the club boycotts the NRL season launch is now under threat.
An NRL spokesman on Monday said: “We are aware of some players not participating in today’s club photo sessions with NRL staff.
“We are in ongoing discussions with the RLPA regarding these and other issues and look forward to an exciting 2023 season for our fans.”
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In December the NRL announced its salary cap for the next five years, angering the players who had not signed off on the new CBA.
The NRL offered $1.347b in total player payments, up from $980m in the previous CBA.
The NRL announced a salary cap of $12.1 million, which is a 25 per cent increase on the 2022 model.
Last week Storm skipper Welch accused the NRL of showing a lack of respect for the RLPA.
“The game is for the fans. We love rugby league, we love playing it. We don’t want to disrupt it,” Welch told The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis on SEN breakfast radio.
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“We’ve seen that throughout the year with State of Origin, finals series, World Cup, there hasn’t been one instance where players have taken away from the game or the fans when, at times, we probably could have where we’ve felt a real lack of respect from the NRL in terms of negotiations.
“We just want to get a deal done, stop talking about this and just focus on footy.”
Players have taken to social media to get behind the player led protest.
Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend posted his feelings on social media.
“We want a well-funded Past Players Program, better funding for the Injury Hardship Fund, funding for a Medical Support Fund, agreement rights on our employment conditions, match fees outside the cap, and a first-ever CBA for women,” Townsend wrote.
“Their salary cap announcement doesn’t resolve any of that but it’s their way of hindering our wishes.”
