NRL cancels season launch amid player dispute

The NRL has made an eyebrow-raising move as it scrambles to get a deal done with its players ahead of the opening game of the season.

Pictured at the Penrith Panthers Rugby League Academy today is Nathan Cleary in the World Club Challenge jersey, for their match against St Helens this Saturday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The NRL’s season launch has been scrapped for the second straight year, this time as a result of the CBA dispute between the game and its players.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting the decision to cancel the event scheduled for Thursday is a means to avoid any unnecessary further friction with the players, given talks had been progressing well in recent days.

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While players still haven’t ruled out strike action and had indicated they were willing to boycott the season launch, the NRL seemingly wanted to remove any further barriers to a collective bargaining agreement getting sorted before Round 1 kicks off on Thursday, March 2.

“Due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the NRL will not hold a season launch function this Thursday as originally planned,” the statement read.

“The NRL remains focused on making positive progress regarding the joint NRL and NRLW agreements.”

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys reportedly intervened in negotiations earlier this week, with both parties agreeing to make concessions in the hopes of coming to an agreement on a future CBA.

Peter V'landys has joined CBA negotiations in recent days. Picture. Phil Hillyard

An in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms was also recently reached between the game and its players.

The decision to cancel this year’s event comes after 2021’s season opener, planned to take place in Penrith, was cancelled because of flooding in the area.

It also comes just days after Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary declared players are prepared to sit out NRL games if the league doesn’t come to the party in the CBA negotiations.

However, the World Cup winner is optimistic a deal can be sorted out before the new season.

“We’re prepared to sit out games. It’s obviously not something we want to do (because) it’s robbing the fans of what they want to see,” Cleary said.

“In saying that, it’s something we’re prepared to do to get our fair share.

“I think it’s just about the NRL coming to the party and wanting to find that middle ground where we can have that fair share. At the moment, unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Nathan Cleary said players were still prepared to sit out games. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Cleary, who is an RLPA delegate, is confident the two parties can reach an agreement to ensure the competition isn’t overshadowed.

“I’m not in on the inside of the negotiations, but I think it will be,” he replied when asked if the CBA would be struck in the next two weeks.

“I don’t think anyone from our side or the NRL’s side wants there to be no games, so hopefully we can come to an agreement. In saying that, we’re not just going to roll over and fall down to what the NRL wants.”

Cleary’s comments came hours after the RLPA shot down reports that they’ve received any new financial offers from the Australian Rugby League Commission as the parties attempt to sort out a joint CBA for NRLW and NRL players.

The CBA has been delayed by more than three months, although key progress was made earlier in the week when the parties announced an in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms.

That included an increase to the salary cap and the minimum wage, as well as detailed pregnancy policies for female players who are now able to sign multi-year deals.

The actual CBA hasn’t been finalised yet, with the RLPA releasing a statement on Thursday morning to let fans know that they haven’t received a new financial offer from the ARLC since December 23.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a financial offer from the ARLC is a total figure that captures all the players’ salaries, benefits and funding for programs,” the statement read.

“The last financial offer the RLPA received from the ARLC and NRL was on December 23rd, 2022 for $1.347b.

A clarification of ARLC and NRL Offers.https://t.co/zIhn6BrRJUpic.twitter.com/mueQkiyV1r

— RLPA (@RLPlayers) February 16, 2023

“The financial offer on December 23rd, 2022 for $1.347b is the same figure that has been reported yesterday and today as a new offer.

“In January 2023, the RLPA sent a counter-proposal to the ARLC and NRL. This counter-proposal did not request any additional money above the ARLC’s financial offer from December 2022.”

That offer was made on the same day the NRL trumpeted a record salary cap for male and female players, which angered the RLPA, which hadn’t been consulted before the announcement was made.

It was the pre-Christmas announcement which soured negotiations and raised fears of a potential player boycott, with NRL stars voicing their dissatisfaction at how the process has been handled.

Those tensions simmered down with a number of positive meetings leading to this week’s NRLW announcement, but reports of a new financial proposal haven’t gone down well with the RLPA, who are fighting to sort out the CBA before the NRL season kicks off in a fortnight.

“The ARLC financial proposal was recycled and positioned as new information to the media,” the statement continued.

“Given the relative progress that was made during last week’s negotiations, as well as Tuesday’s official announcement of an in-principle agreement for NRLW financial terms, this does not help either party make further progress.

“There is still much more work to do as we continue to negotiate a joint CBA for NRLW and NRL players which captures all their terms and conditions.”

- With NCA Newswire