How the delayed CBA is leading to promises that might not be kept

The delayed collective bargaining negotiations could turn ugly, with allegations some NRLW clubs aren’t playing by the rules.

NRLW teams still have no details of what the 2023 competition will look like. Picture: Supplied

The prolonged collective bargaining agreement negotiations have resulted in some NRLW clubs offering players deals in a move that has angered rivals who are fed up that they’re playing by the rules while others are essentially gambling with what the salary cap might look like.

Details of next year’s competition are yet to be confirmed, with four new teams joining to make it the biggest NRLW on record.

The issue facing the current clubs and the ones joining in 2023 is that they have no idea what the salary cap might look like, nor do they know when the competition will start.

The Knights showed how important recruitment was in the NRLW. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

That’s a major problem for a competition that requires players to put their careers outside footy on hold, with some having to move interstate to train and play with their new teams.

Recruitment and retention have become vital in the NRLW, with the Knights going from wooden spooners to premiers in a few months on the back of signing a couple of star players.

One club official told the NCA NewsWire that at least four players from this year’s squad had been offered deals by other teams, while another said they hadn’t looked at next year’s roster because they didn’t know what they were planning for.

The matter of offering deals without a set cap is a dangerous one for managers and players who don’t know if they’re agreeing to a good deal because the cap might jump considerably from what it was this year.

It’s why some clubs have made the difficult decision to not commit to anyone going forward in case they get injured or have a change of heart before the cap is officially set.

The Jillaroos are about to play a World Cup final with no job security for next year. Picture; George Wood/Getty Images

There’s not really anything the NRL can do because it’s very hard to police meetings between managers, coaches and players when they could be talking about anything from contracts to the latest show to binge.

But it’s something they will want to get sorted as soon as possible with 34 of the best players in the world about to play in a World Cup final without knowing what their futures look like.

Originally published as How the delayed CBA is leading to promises that might not be kept