Frustrated NRL players will decide by Friday lunchtime whether to push ahead with plans to disrupt the new pre-season tournament should the NRL fail to deliver on a set of demands.
The NRL on Thursday evening described talks with the Rugby League Players Association as positive, although the players have vowed to delay kick-off times, obscure the NRL logo on their jerseys and boycott all media interviews if the governing body does not agree to key conditions.
The RLPA wants agreement on a salary cap for the women’s game and immediate answers on how the NRLW will look, saying some players are still unsure about what clubs they will play for this year.
The players’ union also wants the right to distribute NRL funding for player-related programs, covering issues such as hardship and welfare.
The players were told on Thursday that although the talks with the NRL had progressed well, the RLPA was not backing away from the threat of industrial action.
Canterbury recruit and RLPA delegate Reed Mahoney said on Thursday “there were things in place”, but that if the NRL fell short of satisfying the RLPA’s demands, the players would take action, which could include walking out.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and RLPA boss Clint Newton.Credit:Getty, Getty
“That [striking] can be what happens but hopefully we don’t get that far,” Mahoney said.
But some senior players told the Herald they had already decided against taking strike action because of the expected backlash from supporters. The negative reaction towards the Manly players who refused to play in their club’s rainbow jersey last year was a clear example of how quickly fans can turn when players refuse to take the field. That experience is something that has not been lost on the overall playing group.
South Sydney’s premiership-winning prop Tom Burgess told the Herald: “We don’t want the fans to hurt from this. We want to get the message across that we’re united and as one, and we want to show unity whichever way we can.
“We’ve waited quite a long time now [to get a deal done]. The things we’re asking for have nothing to do with monetary value. It’s more about the NRL’s control over the RLPA and our share of the funds. We want to be taken seriously with it all.”
Souths prop Tom Burgess says the fans are the last people the players want to alienate.Credit:Getty
The new two-week pre-season challenge carries a $100,000 purse for the winner, and kicked off in New Zealand last night at Mt Smart Stadium, where the Warriors hosted the Wests Tigers. The RLPA agreed players would not take any action before or during that match.
The mooted tactic of delaying kick-off times might have little impact during pre-season matches, but the players know that similar delays during the competition proper would disrupt TV coverage, including Sunday afternoon games, which run into the all-important 6pm news timeslot.
The players have also discussed standing in the middle of the ground to show solidarity before kick-off and there are plans to have training jerseys featuring the RLPA logo made to be worn before pre-season matches.
The NRL and RLPA have been at loggerheads for more than a year and have traded several public barbs. Relations sank to a new low following claims of secret recordings during a face-to-face meeting between NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and players last Friday.
The season launch in a fortnight’s time is unlikely to go ahead because of the players’ refusal to assist the NRL with media and promotional commitments.
Fox Sports will next week film their own ad campaign, which will feature more than 30 topline players, and will be sweating on the players making themselves available.
Senior players were awaiting a response from the NRL last night, before putting a recommendation to the rest of the playing group early on Friday.
“This is serious right now … the whole playing group is across it, and we’re united as one,” Burgess said.
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