NRL shutdown: Text messages NRL players received reveal financial plight
Ahead of a game-wide meeting, the RLPA have told NRL players exactly what to expect in terms of pay if there are no matches again this year.
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The Rugby League Players Association will demand the NRL open their books and share in future profits to avoid a repeat of the wage crisis that will see the code’s stars lose $73 million this season.
Leaked RLPA emails and text messages outline plans to keep the NRL honest by seeking security of player contracts, plus access to the code’s finances and auditing processes.
Players have been told the NRL has found an extra $7 million worth of funding as the Rugby League Players’ Association pushes to secure a guarantee for contracts beyond this season.
The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Mail has obtained the messages received by players late on Friday night by the RLPA that highlight a number of key points ahead of an all-important game-wide meeting on Monday.
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The message confirms:
– Increased payment to players to $19.2 million (up from $12.4 million)
– The unlocking of the injury-hardship fund to pay out to players
– Enabling early access to the retirement account
– All royalties from Nines, All-Stars and NRL match fees must be paid up to date
– Clubs will also retain a welfare and education officer during the shutdown period
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has sourced the extra money and is expected to come out of the coffers of head office. He will present the savage cuts to the commission on Monday before further phone hook-ups with clubs and players.
V’landys is confident the RLPA will accept the NRL’s beefed-up $19.2m offer. The RLPA will continue talks over the weekend and are hopeful of finalising a pay deal in the next 48 hours.
The meeting will give the game more clarity about its financial position going forward. It will also detail potential scenarios of how the season will play out should play return.
The near $20 million rescue package will ensure players are paid for the next month and a half. They could opt to be half-paid for the next three months.
The RLPA will look to provide an estimated $8m in additional funds by tapping into the injury-hardship and retirement accounts to help NRL players as they brace for pay cuts of around 80 per cent for the final six months of the 2019-20 financial year.
These figures are based on the worst-case scenario that no matches will be played again this year. Any return to the field — which V’landys remains hopeful will happen — would result in more pay for the players.
But the NRL will come under greater pressure for full disclosure of the game’s finances after mismanaging more than $2 billion from the code’s two most recent broadcast deals.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg was criticised at Friday’s meeting for failing to deliver precise details of the game’s financial position. The RLPA argued it was difficult to reach agreement on a pay-cut percentage without full knowledge of how much money the NRL had in the bank.
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The RLPA also want more information regarding;
– Guarantee/security of all contracts for future years.
– Health insurance.
– Financial transparency and audit rights.
– Players sharing in any additional money received.
– Inclusion in all discussions about future revenues and scheduling of the competition
“We want to be clear that no deal has been agreed,” the RLPA email read in part.
“We will be holding further discussions with players over the weekend to provide further details, and options for what a payment structure might look like under the revised figure.
“Consultation with players will be crucial to any decision and we have advised the NRL and clubs of that fact.
“The process remains on track to reach an in-principle agreement that we can recommend (to the players).”