NRL 2022: War of words between players and CEO Andrew Abdo

The NRL and its players are at loggerheads with accusations of disrespect and bad faith from both sides. See what the players want

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo (main) and RLPA CEO Clint Newton (inset) are at loggerheads.

RLPA boss Clint Newton has warned the NRL of the dangers of acting like a “dictatorship” as a war of words broke out over rugby league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement battle.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo hit back at claims on Friday that he is facing a club-led revolt, scoffing at suggestions League Central is stalling as pressure builds on the code to deliver a new CBA ahead of the 2023 premiership.

There is a view the RLPA is being excessive in their demands, with the body that represents more than 500 NRL stars having tabled a 24-page document of requests to the NRL.

The Rugby League Players Association also wants a major say in the running of the NRL competition, prompting Abdo to point out that is the purpose of the ARL Commission.

But Newton denied the RLPA are being control freaks in delicate CBA talks as he vowed to continue to fight for player rights.

CEO of the RLPA Clint Newton. Picture: AAP

“A 24-page claims document is hardly unusual when renegotiating a CBA,” Newton said.

“We’re not asking Andrew to be our ‘Yes’ man. We’re asking him to provide us with the proper information, and to let players know what the NRL’s positions are on key claims so we can genuinely bargain.

“Players are not after agreements and consultation rights into every facet of the game. If the NRL wants to go to eight tackles and five-point tries, then they can go ahead and do that.

“The ARL Commission is there to govern the game, not dictate terms and have the capacity to change core-employment terms and conditions without our agreement.

“Do we believe increasing matches, which is a work obligation, does not require player agreement?

“Do we not believe increasing fines, which is illegal in every other industry, should not be agreed with the worker who generates the revenue?

“Do we not believe changing breaches and integrity procedures, which impacts the players’ employment, does not require player agreement?

“If not, doesn’t that sound awfully like a dictatorship or a totalitarian state?

“It would be more of a worry if our claims weren’t detailed.

“Everything is back on the table and negotiable during a CBA and they are all items critical to the employment of the players.

“We are the best code in our region, and we need to start acting like it by having a detailed and fully-formed CBA that we can all proudly stand behind.”

The players and clubs, including South Sydney CEO Blake Solly, have spoken publicly about the NRL's lack of urgency and priority to get the player's CBA and club funding deals done.

🧵👇#RLPA#NRL#NRLWpic.twitter.com/UeLEYLejum

— RLPA (@RLPlayers) November 3, 2022

Under the NRL’s latest offer, the salary cap will rise to at least $11 million for next season, while clubs will each receive grants $5 million above the cap figure - equating to an extra $85 million next season for the 17 franchises.

In total, the NRL will divert at least $272 million to clubs next season - the highest level of funding in the code’s history.

But Newton fears the CBA negotiations could drag on as all NRL clubs prepare to return to pre-season this week.

“There have been meetings, but we’ve spent more time educating the NRL staff on the current CBA and our claims than genuinely bargaining,” he said.

“We have always believed in remaining optimistic with Andrew (Abdo) playing a leading role in negotiations, but our hope of reaching agreement in the near future is fading.

“The NRL might not like it, but we have a responsibility to be transparent with the fans’ players and heroes, talk about our claims, negotiate and get a deal done that respects the players’ contribution to generating the revenues we all benefit from and growing and promoting the game.

“A CBA is a crucial foundation for the game to build on.

“We’ve been more transparent than ever before with promoting our claims because we can proudly stand behind them.

“Is it not our job to continually advocate for improvements for our past, current and future players? Or should we rely on the NRL and Commission to do that too, but wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?

“It’s disrespectful to the players to dismiss how important this is to them and the game.”

ABDO HITS BACK AS REPORT ROCKS NRL BOSS

NRL boss Andrew Abdo has hit back at claims he is facing a club-led revolt in CBA negotiations as it emerged League Central will deliver a record $85 million windfall for the code’s 17 teams.

News Corp can reveal the NRL is offering the most lucrative club grants in the code’s history — totalling almost $300 million collectively — in a bid to resolve the Mexican stand-off with the Rugby League Players Association.

Abdo was rocked by a report that the RLPA and stakeholders would bypass the NRL chief executive and instead move to negotiate directly with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys to resolve the impasse.

There is a view among clubs that Abdo is stonewalling and refusing to respond to correspondence, but the NRL chief executive has rubbished suggestions he is a destabilising figure in delicate CBA talks.

Asked about suggestions he was dithering, prompting clubs to threaten to personally seek out V’landys, Abdo was unequivocal, intimating he was not a ‘yes man’ to the RLPA.

“It’s unfair to accuse me of going slow,” he said.

Andrew Abdo has hit back at the RLPA and NRL clubs. Picture: Getty Images

“This isn’t a question of us not prioritising the CBA or us going slow, it’s perhaps just not the news that the RLPA wants to hear in terms of me saying, ‘Yes’ to all their statement of claims.

“I am heavily engaged in regular meetings. I have been listening and trying to find solutions, but it’s all been a bit one-sided to be honest.

“That (NRL clubs planning to deal directly with V’landys) doesn’t worry me.

“I report to the ARL Commission and I am in regular contact with the chairman (V’landys) and the board.

“I don’t act without their support or without their authority, so it doesn’t bother me if people want to engage directly with the Commission because I am acting on their behalf.

“There’s been regular dialogue for months on the CBA. When we get requests for more information, we compile it and get it back to them. I have never snubbed an email or a meeting.

“It’s my job to always engage, to listen and to seek solutions and I will continue to do that.”

It is understood the statement of claims is a whopping 24 pages long, with the RLPA seeking input on every facet of governance and running of the NRL competition.

That includes a say on the season structure, player-leave entitlements, drug policies and code-of-conduct matters.

But Abdo says the ARL Commission has been set up to preside over the operational running of the NRL — not the RLPA and 17 clubs.

“We have put forward a framework for very structured consultation,” he said.

Andrew Abdo has rubbished suggestions he is a destabilising figure in delicate CBA talks. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The clubs and players have a role to play in providing us with input into decisions around key matters in the game.

“There is a stakeholder committee for that feedback, but ultimately the decision-making power has to rest with the ARL Commission to make those policy calls as they deem fit.”

As revealed by News Corp, the NRL is poised to announce record revenue in excess of $600 million and as part of the fiscal bonanza, the governing body has tabled a proposal to reward clubs like never before.

The NRL’s 16 clubs currently receive $13 million apiece. Under the NRL’s latest CBA offer, clubs will each receive $5 million above the eventual salary-cap figure for 2023, which will be north of $11m.

That means the 17 clubs, including expansion newcomers the Dolphins, stand to collectively pocket an extra $85m in 2023.

A $16 million funding grant from the NRL would equate to a $272m total contribution, an unprecedented level of club investment.

Under the V’landys-Abdo regime, every NRL club is now turning a profit for the first time in the code’s 114-year history, even accounting for the Covid crisis which threatened to bankrupt the sport.

“What we have put forward is a very fair and a very considered financial offer,” Abdo said.

“It takes into account the growth of the game and maximising what allocation of payments we can make to both players and clubs.

“Over the last couple of years, we have provided a significant uplift in distributions to both clubs and players.

“But we also need to protect the grassroots and have something at the bottom so we have to set aside funds for that.

“It’s always important to protect the investment in grassroots participation and pathways because that is an investment in the future which cultivates not just the stars of tomorrow but the fans of tomorrow.

“Through Covid, the Commission has demonstrated that we will always support our members and our clubs and in the proposal going forward, we are continuing that support with a significant increase in funding to clubs over and above any proposed salary cap.”

Abdo claimed the NRL is more financially responsible than ever with the ARLC on track to deliver a profit in excess of $50 million.

“We need to make sure we are lean and we have demonstrated that we are,” he said.

“Our cost-to-income ratio is the lowest it’s ever been in recent history and much lower than other sports.

“I understand the value in certainty.

“Our fans don’t want to hear about this. They want to hear about their players and heroes and so we will put all available energy (into finalising the CBA) and it will be a priority to get a deal finalised as soon as possible.”

CLUBS CLAIM PROOF OF ABDO SNUB AS UNREST ESCALATES

By Dean Ritchie

Fed up NRL clubs claim to have been snubbed during vital CBA negotiations over the past week by NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo – and they have proof.

Last Thursday afternoon, all 17 clubs formally wrote to Abdo – through South Sydney CEO Blake Solly – asking questions and seeking answers about protracted Collective Bargaining Agreement discussions but did not receive a reply or acknowledgment.

That was until The Daily Telegraph contacted the NRL over Abdo’s stonewalling of clubs and ran an online story. Abdo then replied.

It comes as NRL club chairmen, chief executives and possibly some players will bypass Abdo to begin personally calling ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys to agitate for a meeting to try and finalise rugby league’s deadlocked CBA, starting Thursday afternoon.

And RLPA chief executive Clint Newton has told how NRL players are “filthy” at the CBA delay.

Andrew Abdo (left) and Peter V’landys. Picture: Getty

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

Abdo and his failure to reply to the clubs’ email was a strong talking point at the meeting.

The Daily Telegraph secured passages from the email, which read: “I also enclose the list of NRL OpEx (operational expenses) questions that remain outstanding, and a marked-up response to your proposal document with further queries and comments.

“Perhaps you can confirm a time for the Club Working Group to meet with you, John (Osborne, NRL CFO) and other members of the SMT (senior management team) to finalise the discussion next week.

“As always, if you have any queries please contact Justin (Rodski, Storm CEO), Don (Furner, Raiders CEO) or I (as NRL club representatives). Regards, Blake.”

Cranky at being ignored, Solly said on Thursday: “We have received nothing in response - not even an acknowledgment of the email.

“The 17 clubs wrote to Andrew last Thursday seeking some further information and a meeting this week to try and bring about a conclusion to the discussions.

“The clubs and RLPA are united in a desire to conclude these discussions urgently. We have been at the table since February and believe that these matters should have been resolved by now.”

The Daily Telegraph reached out to the NRL for comment about Abdo and the clubs at 1.05pm on Thursday. They declined. At 4pm on Thursday, this story was posted on the Telegraph website.

At 5.22pm on Thursday, a week after the initial email was sent and 80 minutes after the story appeared online, Abdo responded to Solly in a four-paragraph reply.

Some of the game’s heavy hitters expected to personally and directly contact V’landys are influential Matt Tripp (Storm) and Karl Morris (Brisbane) along with CEOs Solly, Don Furner (Canberra) 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, who will travel along with Abdo to the World Cup in England next week.

South Sydney CEO Blake Solly is a figurehead for the clubs.

Nick Politis could be called in to sort the stalemate. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Peter and Andrew have talked at length recently about the strong financial position the game is in. When the 17th team was introduced last October, Peter promised the clubs we would be better off than the existing funding MOU for 2023 as a result of the introduction of the new team,” Solly said.

“To his credit, in his time as chairman, Peter has always delivered on his promises. He has been a man of his word and given the strong financial position he and Andrew have spoken about, we can’t see why this will be any different.

“The clubs are happy with the NRL’s proposed funding of participation and the need to save money for the future in this cycle. We aren’t seeking to take money from these funds.

“The chairs and CEO’s of the clubs are keen to talk directly with Peter in order to get this discussion finished, and deliver the certainty that everyone in the industry is craving”.

Newton was also on the Zoom call.

“The players are filthy that their agreement isn’t in place, there’s no doubt about that. We’re not going to have important areas, particularly connected to player employment, just kicked down the road,” Newton said.

“We’re not satisfied with the current proposal and we won’t be rushing to an agreement that is substandard. All egos should be left at the door – that’s the priority. At the moment, we’re at somewhat of a stalemate.

“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’.

“The RLPA have been incredibly responsible over the last 12 months where we have not used Origin, finals, World Cup, to boycott matches or be militant during those critical matches. Why? Because the players love the game and know largely people just want to enjoy their sport.

“But the reality is, this is their workplace, it’s their employment. The reality is the whole industry is waiting. For me, I don’t really care who is at the table who needs to be there to get this deal done. If it means chairs and some of my directors, or my chair, need to be involved, I don’t care.

“The point is, we don’t need to draw diagrams about how we get there – we just need to get there. If the commission needs to be at the table, then so be it.”

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