Negotiations for a brand new collective bargaining settlement between the NRL and the RLPA hit fever pitch on Wednesday when a participant boycott on media was introduced, with one former nice believing it was “the wrong method” to take.
On Wednesday, the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) sensationally referred to as a participant boycott on all pre-game, post-game and halftime interviews throughout NRL matches and subsequent week’s State of Origin III.
RLPA CEO Clint Newtown mentioned in a press convention that the present state of play between the 2 sides imply “negotiations require a different approach.”
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The saga means an ungainly and fewer than best situation might unfold throughout subsequent week’s State of Origin.
“State of Origin next week, the game will be over, someone will kick a winning field goal and we aren’t going to hear a single word from the player. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out,” Braith Anasta mentioned on NRL360.
Fox League’s James Hooper has labelled the boycott as “lunacy” and that it is just “robbing the fans”.
“The news today. it’s just lunacy. It’s let the game down,” Hooper mentioned on NRL360.
“I’m calling BS here on the RLPA, not the players, but certainly the Rugby League Players Association at a time when millions of Australians are doing it extremely tough.
“For the RLPA to want to rob the fans of having access to players. We are going to have State of Origin next week, it’s one of the jewels of the crown of rugby league but we aren’t going to hear from the players in the lead-up.
“It seems this argument is all about control and Clint Newton and the RLPA are clearly not happy with the amount of control that they have at the negotiating table.
“My view is that they want full control, but as we heard from Andrew Abdo, he wants it to be more of a shared responsibility.”
Abdo, the CEO of the NRL, spoke on NRL360 Wednesday evening the place he expressed his disappointment with the boycott.
“We won’t be bullied or we won’t be threatened,” Abdo mentioned.
“We cannot say yes to everything, so the commission will now carefully consider what has been placed in front of us, absorb that and make a call on what happens next.
“This is an incredibly positive deal and outcome for the players and one that has been carefully considered and thought through.”
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Anasta requested the panel if he agreed with Newton saying the boycott was the concept of the gamers.
“No I don’t. Because I’ve been one of those players and it’s never 100%,” Tallis responded.
“The only people that struggle are the fans and the players are going to come out looking greedy and selfish.”
Anasta then added that the broadcasters additionally “suffer” from the boycott.
“Essentially Fox and Channel Nine pay the bills right?” Anasta mentioned.
“Hundreds and millions a year. Two-thirds of the players’ wages are paid for from the broadcast deals with Fox Sports and Channel Nine,” Hooper responded.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis mentioned that “players would have to be in breach of their contract” by going by means of with the boycott.
“Part of their deal is to fulfil their media obligations and they aren’t doing it,” Carayannis mentioned on NRL360.
“And it’s weak from the players in a sense because this isn’t hitting them in the hip pocket … and it definitely should.”
Hooper pointed to the $380,000 common wage within the NRL and the revised wage cap of $200 million as proof the gamers are paid handsomely.
Anasta nevertheless wished to debate these gamers on the underside finish or “little fish” within the NRL.
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“There’s two sides to the story. The majority of the players earn great money but a lot of guys don’t,” he mentioned.
“If they are earning $130,000, it’s not feel sorry for me, but a lot of these guys move in from the country into the city, get taxed half of that.
“They do have rights. I’m not defending them but I’m talking on behalf of the players here because they have to be represented in some way.
“I emphasise with the players and that’s why I say this, but I don’t like the method. doing this mid-season when the game’s going through Origin and we are just about to hit the finals, I don’t like it at all.”
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Hooper thinks the RLPA’s heavy-handed method will backfire.
“I think it will (backfire). They (RLPA) used the word demonise, they are enemies and the media will turn the guns on them but I think they’ve done themselves a disservice,” Hooper mentioned.
“He (Clint Newton) has done himself a disservice taking this position because for the millions of fans who have spent their hard-earned on jumpers, memberships, pay TV so they can watch the games … watching the footy every week and getting to hear from their favourite players, that’s the highlight of their week.
“To rob them I think is the wrong precedent.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au