Australian star Harry Grant has accused the NRL of low-balling players in the latest collective bargaining agreement negotiations, putting head office on a collision course with the game’s biggest names.
It comes in the same week the NRL has come under heavy fire from certain clubs over the funding model of the sport.
Harry Grant has taken aim at the NRL.Credit:Getty
Now the players have taken aim at head office on the eve of the World Cup semi final against New Zealand. Both NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys were meant to attend before this week cancelling their trip.
Grant claims the NRL is trying to shortchange the players, who deserve what they are asking for given the spectacle they produce. The rugby league calendar year began on November 1 and an agreement is yet to be struck over the salary cap for the upcoming season.
“I’ve got strong thoughts. For us as players it’s our livelihood,” Grant said following the team’s training session in Manchester.
“We just need to get something sorted for everyone’s sake. We’ve put enough into this game, for what we get out of it they are low-balling us at the moment the NRL.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.Credit:Dean Sewell
“As players we want to get it sorted. The [Rugby League Players Association] does a great job for players and they’re negotiating pretty fair with the NRL. Everyone wants to get it sorted.”
RLPA boss Clint Newton flew to Britain and met with the Australian team in Manchester last week.
There are a number of Australian players, including RLPA general president Daly Cherry-Evans, who are passionate about fighting for their peers.
Grant says more needs to be done financially to support young players and fringe first-graders.
“The hard thing is everyone thinks [if] you’re playing NRL you’re on good coin, but the reality is you’re not,” Grant said.
“You’ve got a lot of expenses along the way, you have to move out of home to chase your dreams. I think a development contract is $60,000. Some blokes are better off getting on the tools and doing whatever. At the end of the day you’re chasing a dream. I think a lot of people don’t realise what we put ourselves through.
“It’s not always that financially rewarding. You can’t really complain, we get to play footy for a living, but it is tough at times. We’ve got some players in the squad who are heavily invested, as we all should be. It’s our future. At the end of the day we are going out there to put our bodies on the line.
“We don’t know what our future is going to look like in the game. The sooner we can get it sorted, the better for the game. It is a little mad. Everyone is going out there to put their body on the line to bring this great spectacle to the game. For all the players have done throughout the year, we can’t get to an agreement at the moment.”
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