NRL 2023: RLPA give deadline, threaten industrial action over NRLW CBA delays

The NRL’s Pre-season Challenge could be overshadowed by player industrial action, after the RLPA placed a deadline on the NRL to finalise NRLW discussions.

The RLPA have given the NRL a deadline to finalise discussions over the NRLW or risk industrial action. Picture: AAP.

Rugby league’s freshly-minted pre-season tournament is in danger of being disrupted by industrial action after players were told their union had placed a deadline on the NRL to finalise discussions over the NRLW.

In an email to players on Wednesday, the RLPA raised the prospect of delaying kick-offs, covering NRL logos on jerseys, declining all external media and showing signs of solidarity during trial games that are broadcast.

The RLPA also accused the NRL of clandestine meetings with player agents.

The email reads: “The view of the players was the need to set expectations (what the RLPA need done) and deadlines for the NRL to meet following negotiation meetings.

“If these deadlines and expectations are not met, players will be forced to implement activations to continue to hold the NRL accountable for their lack of progress.”

The players union are also pushing for more autonomy. The latest developments come as the NRL integrity unit is spared the task of interviewing its own executive team after the ARL Commission left the investigation into tapegate in the hands of one of the barristers who helped them in their fight against St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin.

The RLPA have given the NRL a deadline to finalise discussions over the NRLW or risk industrial action. Picture: AAP.

News Corp understands the integrity unit and the NRL executive will play no part in the investigation or its outcome, with the findings to be handed straight to the ARL Commission.

The NRL is wary of any perceived conflicts of interest and has therefore left the investigation to Oliver Jones, a barrister who does regular work for the NRL and will be charged with the responsibility of getting to the bottom of an issue which has widened the divide between head office and the players union.

Jones successfully worked alongside ARL Commissioner Alan Sullivan QC when de Belin challenge the no-fault stand-down rule. It is understood his charter will be to speak to players who were in the meeting last Friday as well as chief executive Andrew Abdo and the female NRL employee who attempted to record a meeting between the NRL boss and senior players.

Jones is also expected to interview another member of the NRL executive, who allegedly asked for Abdo’s speech to be recorded.

Sources close to the matter insist that the NRL’s only intent was to record Abdo’s speech to ensure any comments he made weren’t taken out of context in the following days.

There is an acknowledgment that the female executive made an innocent mistake in not initially flagging her intent with the players.

Panthers star Isaah Yeo (left) says negotiations have dragged on too long and players could be forced to take more action. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

News Corp understands the ARL commission wants the matter settled as quickly as possible, although Jones will be at the mercy of playing group as he looks to speak to some of those who were at the meeting.

Those very players are becoming more frustrated by the day as talks over the collective bargaining agreement drag on.

Abdo helped further discussions with Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton on Wednesday as they look to finalise a deal for NRLW players.

Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo, speaking on Wednesday morning at the launch of Fox League’s pre-season challenge, conceded further action may be necessary unless a deal was struck – there has been talk that the players could boycott any proposed season launch.

”That would be one of the things (season launch) that would be discussed about further action, some media stuff, we haven’t really done any of that yet … that might leak into other areas too, not just the NRL,” Yeo said.

“We’re hoping it doesn’t get to that. Everything we have done is trying to be respectful to the outside but there here has been broken down relationships with the NRL.

“It has taken too long, on the eve of the season we would like to see it sorted. There are things that have broken trust. The (secret) recording the other day was just another one.

“The salary cap going over the RLPA and just being set. There have been a few things that haven’t looked great and that is probably why the relationship is frayed.

“The players have made no secret of their disappointment that the NRL announced a salary cap for this season without getting the green light from the union.

Asked whether strike action was a possibility, Yeo said: “Yeah, I think so. It hasn’t been discussed much because that is the absolute worst case scenario but we feel like there is nothing off the table at the moment because of the breakdown in trust and how long it has taken.

“Obviously it’s a last resort but we need a seat at the table, we need to be respected as well so nothing has been taken off the cards.”