NRL contracts on hold as clubs offer redundancies for staff amid coronavirus financial storm
Two of the NRL’s biggest names have had their futures put on hold with redundancies on offer for key staff as clubs fear they will collapse if the competition is suspended.
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NRL clubs have begun asking key staff to take redundancies amid a player-contract freeze that has already impacted some the game’s highest-profile stars.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that Kangaroos stars Nick Cotric and Tyson Frizell have had their contract negotiations put on hold as every club scrambles to deal with an uncertain financial future.
The contract and recruitment stalemate is viewed as just the beginning by clubs as emotional redundancy discussions and forced leave of staff become a priority.
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Of huge concern for some clubs is their leagues clubs — their long-time financial salvations — which face a bleak future due to self-imposed lockdowns and the governments desire to cap enclosed venues to 100 people.
Players aren’t excluded from these turbulent times, with recruitment managers unable to draw up contracts or contract offers during such uncertainty.
Cotric (Canberra) and Frizell (St George Illawarra) are in the middle of in-depth negotiations to stay with their clubs. But those talks have now been put on hold as clubs fear they may not be able to fulfil their contractual obligations should the game shut down for any length of time due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Both players are close to extending their stay at their clubs.
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Hugely respected Canberra recruitment manager Peter Mulholland, who has worked as a coach or talent scout for the past 25 years, said the Raiders — like every other club — had little choice but to put negotiations on hold.
“You can’t go out and recruit anyone now, given we just don't know what the future is,” Mulholland said.
“We're guaranteed our grant from the game, but we don’t know what that grant might be. Blokes like Nick Cotric are unfortunately on hold for the time being.
“I understand the majority of clubs have put their recruitment on hold. We’re all in limbo — and it's not just rugby league either. It’s all industries.”
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The Dragons are of similar belief with Frizell after offering the backrower a $2.1 million offer over three years.
The final year of the deal is an option in Frizell’s favour as he mulls over a similar offer put forward by the Knights.
Recruitment officers are among those in clubland who fear for their immediate future.
With negotiations paused, they could be one of the first to be asked to take leave by their clubs.
The impact has also been felt at a junior level.
Some clubs have allowed New Zealand-born contracted players to return home, with the NSWRL junior representative competitions suspended.
Originally published as NRL contracts on hold as clubs offer redundancies for staff amid coronavirus financial storm