ARLC Chair Peter V’landys attacks RLPA for drawn out NRL CBA negotiations
The NRL’s longstanding CBA war looks no closer to being resolved, with Clint Newton and the RLPA calling in the big guns as the fight gets even messier.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has launched a stunning attack on the RLPA, slamming Dally M boycott threats as “selfish” and accusing the player body of failing Polynesian stars in the messy CBA spat.
V’landys believes the Collective Bargaining Agreement cold war can be resolved in 48 hours and says he is entering negotiations in a bid to finally bring peace to a contractual dispute spanning almost two years.
However a quick resolution seems highly unlikely after the RLPA took its fight to the ACTU with players’ union boss Clint Newton meeting ACTU secretary Sally McManus in Melbourne on Tuesday.
V’landys hit back at suggestions from the players’ union that the NRL is refusing to negotiate, offering Newton the chance to shake hands over two days of crisis talks.
“The RLPA wants confected conflict, they want power,” V’landys said.
“The Commission is prepared to meet with the RLPA board to resolve the matter.”
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), which represents two million Australian workers, officially threw its support behind the RLPA on Tuesday.
“The ACTU have shown a great amount of support,” said Newton.
“The items in dispute are very much provided to the majority of the workforce in this country.
“The foundations of this country were laid by people who were prepared to put their feet in the right position and stand firm on workers’ rights.
“We want an industrial relations expert to help solve the problem and find a resolution.”
DALLY M DEBACLE
The RLPA has not ruled out snubbing this year’s Dally M Awards – two decades after a player-led boycott saw Penrith halfback Craig Gower miss out on winning the code’s top gong in 2003.
When voting went behind closed doors after round 12, Broncos star Payne Haas led the count and is on track to become the first prop in the 44-year history of the awards to win the Dally M Medal.
Some of the code’s most powerful voices, including Wayne Bennett and Billy Slater, have blasted the RLPA’s media-ban stance and V’landys said a fresh Dally M boycott would be another foolish act.
“It’s so selfish,” he said.
“These NRL players have worked hard all year and the Dally M is their chance to be honoured and recognised and they could be denied that opportunity by their very own player body.
“Imagine some players missing out on winning the Dally M because of some union officials beating their chest wanting recognition.
“I am frustrated for the game and the fans.
“At the end of the day, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you. The broadcasters and the fans pay their wages.
“Why penalise the people they pay their hard earned and follow you week in, week out through all conditions?
“The fans give the players their loyalty and the RLPA wants to treat them like this.
“This whole thing, including the media ban, makes no sense.”
POLYNESIAN PAY WAR
V’landys has sensationally accused the RLPA of not acting in the best interests of Polynesian NRL stars.
The NRL wants standardised Test match payments of $5000 for all international competitors in a bid to better reward Samoa, PNG, Fiji and Tonga players, some of whom have previously represented their cash-strapped nations for free.
V’landys confirmed he sent an email to the RLPA, dated June 9, accusing the players union of “not wishing to pay the Pacific Islander players when they represent their country” and being ”prejudiced against at least 48 per cent of your (RLPA) membership”.
“I sent them an email to highlight what they are up to,” V’landys confirmed.
“In our offer, we want to pay every international player, including the Polynesian players, the same amount.”
“The RLPA only wanted to pay the Australian Test players.
“It’s a well-known fact.
“They can deny it all they want, but that’s the truth of it.
“They didn’t care about the Polynesian players.
“They just wanted the Australian guys to be paid and that’s what the email confirms.
“In my email to them, I said you are discriminating against 48 per cent of your membership.
“That email is potent because they never disputed my email, they accepted what I said.”
Newton told this masthead last month: “We’re not discriminating against the Polynesian players or teams. There is no prejudice whatsoever.
“All we ask is the NRL be transparent about the revenues of an international tournament.”
PLAYER RIP OFF
V’landys in incensed at suggestions the NRL is ripping off the code’s male and female stars.
The NRL has tabled a $1.347 billion deal – the first $1 billion pay offer in the code’s history – and the ARLC chairman claims players he speaks to have no idea of the specific grievances driving the RLPA bunfight.
“I have never heard anything more ludicrous in my life,” V’landys said when asked if NRL players are being dudded.
“We are trying to look after the players.
“Our actions at all times have been to look after them.
“There hasn’t been one issue where we’re trying to undermine the players.
“The players are getting a 37 per cent increase. The average wage (of an NRL male) will be $400,000 and they will be getting longer holidays. How many Australians in the workforce get nine weeks holidays and a 37 per cent pay rise?
“We’ve offered them the first $1 billion deal in the NRL’s history. I have enormous respect for the players. They are the great athletes of our game, so it’s another ridiculous claim by the RLPA.
“The thing that concerns me most … I have spoken to a number of players and none of them know what this issue is all about. None of them. You do a straw poll of the players and I can tell you they have no idea what is really going on.
“They are blindly following the RLPA. I’ve asked the players what their grievances are and they say, ’Sorry, I don’t know, I don’t understand’.
“How do you do a deal when the people that are boycotting don’t even know why they are boycotting?
“This is a classic case of cutting your nose to spite your face.
“It’s nonsense.”
Despite dragging the ACTU into the CBA dispute, Newton insists he wants a swift resolution.
“This has become an absolute circus, it’s simply farcical,” Newton said.
“We want to get a deal done and the best way forward is for the NRL to come back to the table and negotiate with whatever team that we choose to put forward.”
BAD BLOOD
There is a view the CBA will never be completed as long as NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and RLPA counterpart Newton are involved.
It’s been suggested Abdo and Newton are at loggerheads in negotiations. The RLPA wants an independent mediator to help broker peace, but V’landys says the proposal is nonsense.
The RLPA‘s last mediator, Brett Clegg, was parachuted into discussions to deliver a resolution and V’landys claims he walked away in bemusement.
“We’re not starting the process all over again with an independent mediator. That doesn’t guarantee a result,” V’landys said.
“We’ve settled all the big issues they were campaigning against. Now they want more. When does it stop? It’s a never-ending process. You think it’s done and then something else pops up.
“They brought in a mediator, Brett Clegg, who was there for eight months.
“Brett had all the knowledge, he had all the context, he had been there for all the meetings, why lose that corporate knowledge?
“The RLPA suggested Brett Clegg and we accepted it. His integrity was beyond reproach.
“He was very balanced, but the RLPA didn‘t want him anymore because he wasn’t taking their side.”
Asked if Abdo’s relationship with Newton is toxic and untenable, he said: “Naturally, you need to take the emotion out of it and get a deal done.
“I never play personalities, I just play the issues.
“As far as I’m concerned, everyone has to act in the best interests of the game, no matter who is involved.
“I am sure when the deal is done that everyone will be on the same page again.”
THE FUTURE
Queensland Origin coach Slater summed up the disenchantment of fans and stakeholders when he called for the NRL and RLPA to end the war.
V’landys is adamant he can deliver CBA peace in just 48 hours.
“This can easily be sorted out in two days,” he said.
“The Commission happy to negotiate with the RLPA non-executive directors so long as they are genuine in wanting a deal done.
“I’ve said let’s put two days aside to finalise the agreement if they have the good faith to do it.
“This delay has cost the game millions of dollars in opportunities because we are wasting our time on the CBA and commercial opportunities are being lost.
“The loser is the game and if the game loses, the players lose.
“If the RLPA really want an agreement, we could get this done in two days.
“The ball is in their court.”
Originally published as ARLC Chair Peter V’landys attacks RLPA for drawn out NRL CBA negotiations
Join the conversation
Broncos in box seat for minor premiership
Not even a bombed try in the final minute could spoil the party as the Broncos sent an ominous warning to their rivals on the eve of the finals.
Read more
Ben Te’o’s vow to the Broncos ahead of Red Hill return
Former Maroons hit man Ben Te’o has vowed to bring a hard edge to Red Hill when he returns to the Broncos, but there is one thing he won’t be doing when it comes to helping under-pressure coach Kevin Walters.
Read more