Frustrated NRL clubs and players call on Peter V’landys to end CBA deadlock

Fed up with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, a number of club heavyweights and players are set to contact Peter V’landys direct as they seek to finalise a new CBA.

Delouise Hoeter and Matt Frawley split image.

NRL club chairmen, chief executives and possibly some players will begin personally calling ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys to start agitating for a meeting to finalise rugby league’s deadlocked CBA.

V’landys can start expecting pressure from club chairs from Thursday afternoon.

As reported in The Daily Telegraph, all 17 clubs held a Zoom meeting on Thursday morning amid increasing concerns over the long delays in nailing down the agreement, which expired on November 1.

As many as six club representatives, plus additional players, will reach out to V’landys to seek a meeting to solve the impasse.

Clubs and players are set to start calling ARLC chairman Peter V’landys. Picture: David Swift.

Some of the heavy hitters expected to contact V’landys directly are influential chairmen Nick Politis (Sydney Roosters), Matt Trip (Storm) and Karl Morris (Brisbane) along with CEOs Don Furner (Canberra), Blake Solly (Souths) and Brian Fletcher (Penrith).

While their role is yet to be determined, it is expected that leading players will now be called on to help expedite discussions and a meeting with V’landys.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton was also on the Zoom meeting.

“We are still waiting on information from the NRL and we will not be stopping, and we won’t be doing a deal until we’re satisfied we have all the information and we’ve interrogated it, investigated it and understand what they are providing so we can stand up in front of the players and say: ‘This is a deal we recommend you accept’,” Newton said.

CLUBS HAVE 20 MILLION REASONS TO GO OVER ABDO’S HEAD

Frustrated clubs are preparing to assemble a high-powered lobby group – comprising chairmen and CEOs – to bypass NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and start negotiating the deadlocked CBA deal directly with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.

Club officials are forecasting the shortfall in Collective Bargaining Agreement talks between the RLPA and NRL is around $20m a year.

News Corp can reveal club chief executives will hold a private Zoom meeting on Thursday morning to discuss trying to end the CBA stalemate by sending three influential chairmen – possibly Nick Politis (Sydney Roosters), Matt Tripp (Storm) and Karl Morris (Brisbane), along with the CEOs – Don Furner (Canberra), Blake Solly (Souths) and Brian Fletcher (Penrith) – to meet with V’landys.

Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between the RLPA, NRL and clubs – which started back in February – have been protracted.

Club powerbrokers say talks with Abdo over the required finances aren’t progressing and there appears only one way to resolve the impasse – send in their heaviest hitters to negotiate with V’landys.

One source close to the clubs said: “We’ve gone as far as we can with Andrew; somebody has to get to Peter. The clubs think Andrew can’t do anymore with the finances unless Peter intervenes.”

(L-R) Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys. Picture: NRL Imagery

It is understood V’landys and Abdo will travel to England next week for the World Cup and clubs are desperate for the new CBA to be completed before the pair leave Australia.

NRL executives are reluctant to add another $20m to the CBA outlay given that amount would significantly assist their own operating expenses. If the extra $20m can be secured, then a deal can be struck, claim the clubs.

The RLPA and clubs have accused the NRL of being sluggish in talks to nail down a new CBA.

Among the key issues to be resolved are the NRL salary cap, investment in the NRLW, NRL player payments, revenue share, minimum wage for players and funding for medical and hardship support for retired and past players.

“We have budgets to complete and players to sign so we need this to be done ASAP,” said Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher. “We seem to be miles apart at the moment.

“You’d think it was a matter that needed a bit of urgency but it doesn’t seem to be getting that. It would be nice to know where we’re going.”

Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has called for urgency. Picture AAP

Canberra CEO Don Furner added: “November 1, the first day of our new financial year, was Tuesday and we’re hoping to get this settled and have clarity on the salary cap and our finances.”

It was hoped that increased talks between all parties last week could finalise the CBA – but the wait continues.

One out-of-Sydney CEO said: “We have a meeting (on Thursday) with all the clubs to try and move it forward. The NRL has basically gone into ‘ignore-mode.’

“Everyone is getting frustrated by the lack of action from the NRL. Tuesday was the first day of a new financial year and there’s no CBA or club distribution agreement.

“If we have to go to the commission directly, and bypass Andrew, to take this seriously then we will. The clubs are now looking at escalating their concerns to the commissioners.”

The previous CBA expired on October 31.

Just last week, RLPA chief executive Clint Newton told News Corp: “If this CBA was being refereed, the NRL would have certainly spent some time in the sin bin for repeatedly slowing the play down.”

In Monday’s News Corp publications, South Sydney CEO Blake Solly said: “The RLPA and clubs have been at the table since February and the entire industry now needs some certainty ASAP. It’s got to be their highest priority.”

NRL PLAYERS FEEL COST OF LIVING PINCH

— Fatima Kdouh

A NRL-wide survey has revealed one in four players are experiencing some form of financial distress as the increasing cost of living hits rugby league.

The annual survey, by the Rugby League Players Association, canvassed the opinion of top-30, development and train-and trial-players on a broad range of topics, including employment conditions and well being.

When asked about how players felt regarding the state of their finances, 24 per cent answered that they were either ‘struggling’ or ‘just coping’, a 14 per cent increase on 2021.

While rich multi million-dollar deals dominate the headlines, the reality is almost half of all NRL players are on contracts worth $150,000 or less.

The minimum wage for players on the bottom end of the salary cap is $120,000.

Players 27-30 on a roster earn less, with the minimum wage set at $80,000.

Matt Frawley, who has been a lower tier cap player, believes an increase in the minimum wage will help struggling players. NRL Imagery

Those wages are pre-tax, superannuation and agent fees, which are up to six per cent of the contract value.

The RLPA is pushing for the minimum wage to be increased to $150,000 for all top-30 players as part of ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks.

The player

Canberra half Matt Frawley, who has been a lower-tier player throughout his career, told The Daily Telegraph, the wage hike will help players better provide for their families.

“The outside perception is if you have a NRL contract or train with an NRL team that you’re doing well but a lot of the time for anyone in that lower tier, it’s not the case,” Frawley said.

“I came through the Bulldogs on $50,000 on my first year at the Bulldogs but I had the support of my family.

“But there are definitely examples at every club of the struggles of players, that are not just supporting themselves but their partners, young kids or other family at home.

“I can’t say I have seen examples of players not being able to pay rent or their mortgage but these things could be happening and you would never know.

“As much as we are close mates and tight knit, you don’t talk about those money struggles because there is a stigma around it.”

Improvements for train-and-trial players

The RLPA is also looking to introduce improved conditions for train-and-trial contracts, where players earn up to $500 per day without any deductions.

Currently, the standard is $1000 per week with an expectation players complete three training sessions and club sources have confirmed some players will have massages and meals deducted from that wage.

But most train-and-trial players are taking on full-time training loads on their $1000 contracts.

“The majority of the boys that clubs want to keep are doing the exact same workload as the top 30 players, so they can’t have jobs on the side because training is a full-time job for them,” Frawley said.

“They have to rely on that income to get through the week. Not only to live but to live a professional athlete‘s life … eat properly, sleep properly … they are the ones struggling and need the support of the new CBA.

“If you live in a capital city, where the cost of living is increasing and wages haven’t increased in the NRL, it can be really hard on those boys.”

Delouise Hoeter started 2022 on a train and trial contract with the Broncos and finished with a top-30 contract.

How changes would look

The proposal would also see the development list replaced by a ‘supplementary list’ for players outside of the top-30 roster that is capped at $700,000 and must have a minimum of six players.

“We have to do everything we can to support those boys and keep them in the game because they’re our future. They are players coming into the system that are only young,” Frawley said.

The survey also revealed almost 30 per cent of players are supporting dependants other than children, like parents, grandparents and siblings.

“Obviously something has changed in the last year, and with rising inflation and cost of living pressures it’s something that is impacting everyone. Rugby league players are certainly not immune, especially with a large contingent financially supporting close family and relatives too,” RLPA operations manager Jamie Buhrer said.
Players are also seeking increased investment into wellbeing and education programs, including financial literacy programs and a past player program which would focus on transition to life after football.

A medical support fund to help pay for surgeries to fix injuries that aren’t covered by clubs post retirement.