NRL pay war: Rugby league players thrown under the bus in one big RLPA game

Rugby league players are being thrown under the bus by their own leaders, who have unknowingly placed the careers of every NRL star in jeopardy.

Danny Russell interviewed by Dragons’ club personnel. He was gagged from telling his inspiring story the mainstream media.

The Rugby League Players Association have sent their foot soldiers into a battle against millions of fans and the media who pay their wages.

It’s a strategy Colonel Klink couldn’t have mustered.

The bemusing tactic by the RLPA is backfiring.

We know that much because the RLPA’s most senior leaders have spent the past 48-hours calling around the game for back-up.

In doing so, the blame game and finger pointing has begun internally at the RLPA.

The poor players wouldn’t know it, but they’re being thrown under the bus by their own leaders.

It’s those same players, through the direction of their leaders, that have unknowingly placed their careers in jeopardy.

William Warbrick had an interview about his inspiring journey spiked by the RLPA. Picture NRL Photos

If lawyers can prove that players are in breach of their contracts, by not fulfilling their commitments to properly promote the game, every club would have the power to tear-up the contract of a player immediately.

Don’t think that some clubs, for example one with an ageing player earning good money on their books, haven’t already discussed easing some salary cap pressure.

In the last two days, SOS emails and text messages from the RLPA have been sent to Australia’s biggest media organisations, Nine Entertainment and News Corp.

Club CEO’s have also received communication from the RLPA seeking any slither of support.

Nine and News Corp, through Fox Sports, help bankroll the code to broadcast every game to the tune of about $2 billion, a deal which runs through until 2027.

No other revenue in the game contributes to the salaries of the players more than what comes from the broadcasters.

Somehow, in their wisdom, the RLPA, led by CEO Clint Newton and chair Deidre Anderson, felt it would be smart to concoct a plan that has stopped players from being interviewed before and after games, and most importantly, by the broadcasters who pay their wages.

CEO of the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) Clint Newton.

Not only is the RLPA biting both hands that feeds them, they’re punishing the stay-at-home fan for something they have nothing to do with.

And either does the media.

In protest to the embarrassingly protracted Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the NRL and the RLPA, the latter announced last Wednesday that they were gagging the players.

The RLPA thought it would be wise to stop journalists and reporters from sharing the stories of the players to millions of fans.

Yet the only ones that are being hurt by this, are the players themselves.

Danny Russell interviewed by Dragons’ club personnel. He was gagged from telling his inspiring story the mainstream media.

For example, Dally M rookie of the year contender and hugely talented Melbourne Storm winger Will Warbrick boasts a story of sheer inspiration, traversing between an upbringing that included playing AFL in New Zealand, the Olympics with rugby union and now 11 tries in 16 NRL-appearances for one of Australia’s most revered sporting franchises.

Having never gone into detail about his journey, Warbrick was set to film his uplifting story with Fox League on Wednesday.

That was, until the RLPA pulled the pin on the special feature interview.

In a terrible year, Dragons fans had one of the best feel good stories of their season ripped from underneath them by the RLPA.

Bench forward Dan Russell at the age of 27 made his NRL debut for Saints on Friday night. He ranks as one of the oldest debutants in the NRL-era.

His words, through his eyes, the moment he and his family had waited his whole life for, deserved a press conference of his own. Russell didn’t get that chance. Well done, RLPA.