Eels recruit Josh Hodgson has taken aim at the NRL for dragging out negotiations over the next collective bargaining agreement that will determine the salary cap for 2023.
Clubs are yet to lock down their top 30 roster because they don’t know how much they can spend, which has left players in the lurch.
“If the game takes a hit, we take it, too – and take the upside as well – but it gives players a real buy-in to the game,” Hodgson told The Canberra Times.
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“Right now it’s messy. There was so much time wasted on us figuring out how much the NRL had gone above forecast.
“If we got that even revenue share decided, then as soon as the money comes in, it’s worked out straight away, a clear percentage goes to the RLPA, and to the NRL.”
A host of players will hit the open market on November 1 but Hodgson said the NRL and RLPA aren’t even close to a deal.
“From the RLPA’s perspective we’re just really disappointed that we’re this far into the year, it’s nearly November and we’re still not even firmly in full negotiations,” Hodgson said.
“We were informed it was going to be prioritised as soon as the season finished.
“It’s a five-year agreement that takes a lot of going over.
“We’ve got the season just about to be under way, new contracts for a lot of players, and NRLW teams are starting up now with new teams as well – so there’s a lot going on.”
The salary cap is expected to increase to more than $10 million next season, but ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.
Teddy talks Italy-to-Australia switch | 01:08
