It’s clear the game’s finances are strong, and that’s great.
It means the NRL and NRLW products are healthy, we have engaged fans, and the players and clubs are doing their jobs.
We’ve said all year the game needs to align with every other major code in the world and provide players with a genuine revenue share model.
Players should receive a fair percentage of revenue above the NRL’s forecasts and that share shouldn’t see the current group of players track backward.
Players are fundamental to the game’s revenue, so the percentage share must be fair and reflect our contribution.
We’ve also been very vocal publicly and direct privately with the NRL that this negotiation is about more than money going to current players.
Our CBA claims take a bottom up approach by guaranteeing more contracts, lifting the minimum wages in the NRL and NRLW, and improving our benefits and non-financial terms.
The next CBA needs to demonstrate greater respect for players and our Association. It must respect our commercial rights and property, and fairly respect past players and the challenges they face.
When we do reach agreement, the game will move forward, but we can’t allow rival codes or our biggest threat, the AFL, to extend its lead on rugby league.
We should be doing all we can to attract and retain the best NRL and NRLW talent with industry-leading terms and conditions.
The salary cap usually gets all the headlines during a CBA negotiation, but there’s a lot more detail and elements that are important to players.
Agreement Rights
Players must have fundamental agreement rights over our core employment terms and conditions.
If the NRL wants to change the rules of the game and go to eight tackles or seven point tries then they can go for gold.
Players will have an opinion on it, but we don’t want to govern the game because that’s the job of the Commission and the NRL.
What we must have, though, is a clear framework that trusts us to help make decisions on matters that directly impact our employment. If we can reach agreement on hundreds of employment matters during a CBA negotiation, why could we not reach agreement on future matters over the term?
Equal rights on employment and workplace matters should reflect the strength of our relationship with the NRL.
Trade and Transfer Windows
It’s well known the players are against any changes to our current free agency model.
Are there options to improve the current system? Possibly.
The problem with the trade debate is that it always gets distilled down to player loyalty. How does introducing a restrictive trade or transfer window improve loyalty or fairly spread talent?
Penrith won two grand finals with four key players signing contracts with other clubs long before they played in those Grand Finals.
I would love to see someone question their loyalty or commitment to the Panthers.
It’s on everyone to make the current system work because we haven’t seen anything that fairly balances the risk on players or supports clubs trying to rebuild a roster.
Player Support and Programs
Rugby league started out as a working-class game. Taking care of its people was vital.
I believe we have moved away from the very foundations we have all benefited from.
The NRL needs to do what it does well. But when it comes to past players, the RLPA is best positioned to service their needs. It’s the RLPA’s bread and butter.
The RLPA is led by players, for players and our Board is incredibly experienced and highly-skilled.
Our Association must have the autonomy to allocate the players’ share of revenue to areas we decide are most important.
We must continue to grow as the representatives of the players and claim greater responsibility in the industry.
Players want to establish a Past Player Program and Medical Support Fund for male and female players. We want to expand the Injury Hardship Fund to start taking better care of those who dug the well for current players.
The RLPA is also proposing greater control of the players’ Wellbeing and Education program. It’s wrong that the players are the program’s biggest investor, yet it’s controlled by the NRL and Commission with little or no financial contribution.
Best practice globally is for the players’ association to manage the players’ wellbeing program. Our game is lagging behind in this area, especially in Australia.
NEXT STEPS
We have already rejected proposals from the NRL because they did not meet the players expectations of fairness and respect.
Recently the NRL have committed to delivering on our expectations. That is why our Board decided not to terminate the current CBA, a right both parties have, and give the industry more certainty past November 1.
We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the NRL’s next proposal must meet our expectations which includes fair revenue share and outperformance, agreement rights, and RLPA autonomy.
Players will not accept any further excuses by the NRL and Commission that prevents us from agreeing to a historic CBA that the whole game can be proud of.
