NRL transfer deadline 2022: RLPA warns ARLC over changing August 1 cut-off without player input
The boss of the Rugby League Players Association says the furore over the frenzied activity before the August 1 NRL trade deadline has been blown out of proportion.
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The players’ union has sent a blunt reminder to the ARL Commission that any attempt to change the August 1 transfer deadline needs to be rubber-stamped by the players.
Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton, who is locked in sensitive talks with the NRL over historical payments, suggested the furore over the frenzied activity in the lead-up to August 1 had been blown out of proportion.
Regardless, Newton said the union was open to a discussion about changing the date but not the capacity of players to move between consenting clubs.
“Ultimately the point is this is an employment matter and it is not a decision for the commission alone,” Newton said.
“It has been positioned as this doomsday, deadline of chaos. Let’s stop and take a look at the big picture here — we are talking about a couple of players who have temporarily swapped clubs, one of which hasn’t played first grade for months.
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“So who are we talking about — speculative players who may have been shopped around. Well shock, horror, that happens on a regular basis.
“The other thing is this is a bloody tough, long season. Players are going to be busted at the end of the year, players are going to be running on empty.
“So we need to have things in place to allow clubs to ensure they can bolster their rosters and potentially have the best players playing at the most important time of the year.
“Of course it needs to be reviewed but everyone is in the business of winning and I think it is a big call to accuse clubs of buying premierships when we are really talking about a couple of players here who are going to benefit from a loan system that was done with good intentions and works.
“No one here is leaving against their will.”
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys told News Corp on Monday that he was ready to recommend that the August 1 deadline revert to its traditional home on June 30.
The date was pushed back to help clubs during the Covid period but there was a backlash this week as some of the game’s high-flying clubs attempted to pillage their battling opposition.
The only moves of significance involved two Wests Tigers players — David Nofoaluma moved signed with Melbourne for the remainder of the year and Oliver Glidart joined the Sydney Roosters.
Parramatta failed in attempts to sign David Klemmer and Marty Taupau while Melbourne reached out to a handful of clubs as they sought another middle forward.
“Whenever there is discussion about employment matters or rights that are as fundamental as this one, which is free agency, you can’t talk about it as if it is not going to be negotiated,” Newton said.
“You can’t just make a change like that. We definitely need to review the timing of it ... but let’s not conflate the two.
“One is the timing factor that absolutely needs to be discussed. The other is an employment right that would ultimately result in a restraint of trade.
“Clubs are always going to do what they can to have the best roster at the most important time of the year. This is within the rules.”
V’landys’ transfer call following deadline day madness
-Phil Rothfield, Brent Read
ARL Commission chairman boss Peter V’landys wants to scrap the NRL’s controversial August 1 signing deadline, fearing clubs will use it to try and buy a premiership.
V’landys told The Daily Telegraph on Monday night that he favoured reverting to the original June 30 cut-off date for player transfers following another hectic day in which the Sydney Roosters picked up Wests Tigers centre Oliver Gildart and the Parramatta Eels tried to snatch David Klemmer from Newcastle on short-term deals.
The situation has caused outrage with fans.
While V’landys was not referring to those cases specifically, he said it was not a good look for the game, declaring: “You don’t want clubs trying to buy a premiership late in the year.”
“I’ll be recommending to the (ARL) Commission that we go back to June 30,” V’landys said.
“We only changed it during Covid to help out clubs under different circumstances to what we have now.”
The issue will be raised at the next Commission meeting on a topic that has divided the game since the Melbourne Storm last week secured Tigers winger David Nofoaluma for the remainder of the season to ease their injury crisis.
The Eels had made a last-ditch bid to sign Knights veteran Klemmer before Monday’s midnight deadline after Manly coach Des Hasler rejected Parramatta’s attempt to snare Marty Taupau from the Sea Eagles over the weekend.
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien met with club officials on Monday afternoon to make a call on the release request.
However, Klemmer indicated on Monday afternoon that he would not be prepared to move.
“No, I’m committed to the club (Knights)” he told The Newcastle Herald.
Klemmer is on an $800,000-a-year deal at the Knights, which runs until the end of next season.
The Knights could have saved close to $200,000 on their salary cap by allowing him to join the Eels for the remainder of 2022, with the NRL’s financial year running until October 31.
It comes as the Roosters confirmed the signing of Gildart on Monday afternoon after negotiating a loan deal with the Tigers, which would allow them to offer contract upgrades to players they are looking to re-sign beyond the end of the year.
Having already loaned Nofoaluma to the Storm, the Tigers freed up further salary cap cash after receiving an SOS from the injury-ravaged Roosters.
Gildart has a year to run on his contract with the Tigers and will remain contracted for 2023.
It is understood Gildart will be available for selection in the Roosters squad for this week’s clash against Brisbane now the deal has been finalised.
Gildart made eight appearances for the Tigers before he injured his calf in May and has since been playing with the club’s NSW Cup team, Western Suburbs Magpies.
Both clubs confirmed the move in a statement on Monday afternoon.
“This works for Oliver, and it works for us as well. So strategically, it makes sense,” Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said.
Oliver will return to us after this short loan and begin preparing for 2023.”
The Eels ended up adding a big body to their top 30 on deadline day when they upgraded former Bulldogs prop Ofaiki Ogden for the remainder of the season.
Having been frustrated in their bids to sign Klemmer and Taupau, the club must now turn their attention to a must-win game on Friday night without halfback Mitchell Moses, who underwent surgery on Monday for a broken finger.
Moses leaves a void that is likely to be filled by Jake Arthur, although Parramatta players were playing their cards close to their chest on Monday.
“He’s (Moses) a big part of our side, he’s a leader,” hooker Reed Mahoney said.
“We have people in the squad who can step up and fill that position. Whoever goes in will do a job.
“We know we just have to stand up. The next few weeks are pretty vital for us. Somebody comes in and will do the job.”
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