NRL, RLPA send letter to NZRL claiming Denver Test is ‘deeply flawed’
A DEFIANT NZRL insists the Denver Test match will go ahead despite receiving a joint letter from the NRL, clubs and the RLPA where the match was described as “deeply flawed”.
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A DEFIANT New Zealand Rugby League insists the Denver Test match will go ahead despite receiving a joint letter from the NRL, clubs and the RLPA where the match was described as “deeply flawed”.
The NZRL fired a shot back after receiving the letter co-signed by NRL club boss Todd Greenberg, head of the RLPA Ian Prendergast and South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly.
The Saturday Telegraph has obtained the letter which was sent to all clubs on Friday.
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The letter — which was sent to the respective bosses of the New Zealand Rugby League and their English counterparts — read the groups were “concerned that the commercial considerations that have motivated (New Zealand and England) to schedule the match may have unreasonably prevailed over a considered and balanced assessment of the risks to the health and safety of NRL players who will play in the match, the disruption that may be caused to the NRL clubs resulting from (potential) player unavailability, and the possible financial risk that NRL clubs may have to assume because of NRL player contract security.
“That the commercial considerations to schedule the match may have unreasonably prevailed over a considered and balanced assessment of the risks to the health and safety of NRL players who will play in the match, the disruption that may be caused to the NRL clubs resulting from (potential) player unavailability, and the possible financial risk that NRL clubs may have to assume because of NRL player contract security.”
The letter went on to state that key stakeholders in Australia wanted a copy of the full medical insurance policy, a copy of the full policy terms covering NRL clubs and players for loss incurred because of injury to a player, proposed options for Clubs and players where the insurance does not cover the length of a player’s contract and details of the remuneration for players.
The respective countries have been asked to front up to the 16 NRL club chief executives at a meeting on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. The NZRL said players who play in Denver will receive the same benefits which State of Origin and previous ANZAC Test policies.
They will also receive extra insurance required for playing in the US. Wests Tigers co-captain Elijah Taylor said he wants to play in the match.
“Any opportunity I get I’ll grab with both hands and I’m 100 per cent committed to every Kiwi game wherever it’s played,” Taylor said. “I understand the NRL clubs have concerns about playing in Denver, so it’s great to see the player insurance has been sorted for the Test.”
Players such as St George Illawarra duo Gareth Widdop and James Graham are due to play 48 hours after returning to Australia.
The co-signed letter described the short turnaround as “inadequate” based on medical advice.
“The circumstances under which the test has been scheduled and organised is deeply flawed,” the letter read. “It is unsatisfactory for a match to be scheduled at the agreement of the two nations without consideration for the adverse impact it will have on the players, NRL clubs and the NRL competition.”