Rugby league players will boycott media duties after negotiations with the NRL over the collective bargaining agreement reached an impasse.
From tomorrow all players have unanimously agreed to boycott all broadcast and media engagements on days when there is a NRL, NRLW or State of Origin game.
The Rugby League Players Association says players will keep the boycott in place until the completion of a draft CBA covering NRL and NRLW players; until the two parties meet with an industrial relations mediator; and until players’ pre-Covid entitlements are reinstated.
The RLPA said in a statement that the Australian Rugby League Commission and the NRL had “effectively halted negotiations”.
The chair of the RLPA, Deidre Anderson, said the organisation was “extremely disappointed in the breakdown” of communication with the NRL.
After almost 20 months of negotiations, the RLPA is claiming the NRL has come back to the table with an offer which would set the players and the game back and affects players’ rights.
“It is a clear attempt to intimidate players into a deal that they believe undermines their rights, their voice and their control over their own careers, and unanimously they have agreed that they will not continue with these types of tactics,” Anderson said.
The chief executive of the RLPA, Clint Newton, said “our issue is not with the media”. “This player action is about safeguarding the integrity of the NRL and the NRLW and standing up for what is right,” he said.
“I am fearful and concerned about the trajectory of our game – with all major stakeholder agreements unsigned, unresolved and unannounced.”
More than 50 players met on Tuesday night for discussions around the CBA, which was due to come into effect last November.
Private health insurance, the implementation of a transfer system and revenue distribution have all been points of contention between the two parties throughout the protracted talks.
The RLPA had previously refused to engage its players in media commitments with NRL.com staff but those restrictions were loosened earlier in the season.
The league said in a statement it was “disappointed that the RLPA has decided to take this unnecessary action, which is damaging to the game and to the detriment of broadcast partners, sponsors and importantly fans”.
“The suggestion that the NRL has not been listening to the players is not correct. The NRL and Clubs have spent well over 12 months negotiating and carefully considering the players requests.
“This includes recognising the players priorities to provide greater support to players transitioning from the game and support players in retirement and hardship.”
