Broncos star Kurt Capewell has not ruled out a player strike if the NRL refuse to negotiate the details of the new collective bargaining agreement.
AAP reported Capewell confirmed on Tuesday the Broncos would boycott promotional duties, in line with other clubs’ protests, unless the NRL is willing to negotiate the CBA.
Pressed on whether the players were prepared to strike if there was still no action, Capewell said: “Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”
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Capewell accused the NRL of failing to make a sincere effort to listen to the players’ demands since the initial October 2022 deadline for the CBA.
“(The NRL) have belief if they wait it out long enough we’re just going to have to sign (but) we’re not going to stand here and cop it,” Capewell told AAP.
“We’re ready to draw a line in the sand and we’ll make a stand.
“We don’t want it to come to (a player strike) but if the NRL are going to sit on their heels and not budge, who knows where it’s going to go?
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“But I’m sure they’ll be able to see we’re not happy and how connected we are.”
The NRL’s salary cap is $12.1 million in 2023, a record figure and a significant increase from $9.6 million in 2022, with a rise in the minimum salary for top 30 players to $120,000.
NRLW sides have also been given a salary cap increase to $884,000 in 2023, although no season start date or length has yet been confirmed.
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However, the RLPA maintain they were only informed of the details of the new salary cap hours before the announcement and Capewell stressed the players’ concerns went beyond financial issues.
“It’s the NRL’s strategy to paint a picture of us (as greedy), wave a shiny toy in our face and hope we’re silly enough to run into that CBA,” Capewell said.
“There’s still so many parts that are nowhere near (acceptable) and we’re prepared to fight for what we think is fair.
“The CBA controls a lot more than just our salaries; we want a fair revenue share, a genuine seat at the table, and want to be heard.
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“It’s not about the wage, it’s about setting up funding for past players, welfare and tertiary education.”
Capewell backed boycotts of media opportunities by the Sharks and Dragons.
“At the moment we’re not doing the NRL (promotional) stuff … it’s something we’ve all decided to do and hopefully grabs the NRL’s attention and shows we’re not happy,” Capewell said.
“This is the most united the playing group’s ever been.”
