NRL v RLPA: Gorden Tallis launches brutal offensive against Clint Newtown

Gorden Tallis has launched a stinging attack on RLPA boss Clint Newton over the toxic negotiating war with the NRL.

CEO of the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) Clint Newton. Picture: Getty

Gorden Tallis has launched a stinging attack on Clint Newton as the RLPA boss says he’s prepared to be sacked over the toxic Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiating war with the NRL.

Newton urged the NRL to return to the negotiating table and came under fierce attack from Fox Sports analyst Tallis.

The Broncos legend lashed Newton for failing to deliver a CBA after 20 months of talks and questioned if he was the right person for the job, prompting the RLPA chief to concede he is prepared to be the sacrificial lamb for the CBA war to end.

Asked by Tallis on Triple M’s Sin Bin program if the players needed “someone better running the players’ association”, Newton replied: “That’s up to the players to decide.

“If that’s what they want, I am happy to be cast out if that’s what it takes (to deliver a CBA).

“If that’s what it is ... I’m happy to put myself between a bullet and the target and the target is the players.

“Let’s make that clear.”

CEO of the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) Clint Newton. Picture: Getty

Under fire for presiding over a media boycott, Newton claimed players have been “demonised” over a CBA stalemate spanning almost two years.

There is a view Newton’s negotiating relationship with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is untenable, fuelling fears the warring parties will never be able to shake hands on the code’s first long-form CBA - even with the help of an industrial-relations expert.

Leading sports lawyer Tim Fuller warned players could be at risk of breaching their NRL contracts by failing to fulfil their media obligations.

“Players are required to observe and comply with the terms of their playing contracts and this includes media obligations,” Fuller said.

“If they do not, they are at risk of being fined, suspended or even terminated of their contracts.

“By following the direction of the RLPA, it is arguable that they are in danger of breaching their contracts.”

It is understood the NRL’s two major broadcast partners, News Corp, publisher of this masthead, and Channel 9, have tipped in between $1.5-2 billion collectively over a five-year term to cover the Telstra Premiership.

Gorden Tallis. Picture: Tara Croser.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has taken aim at Newton, claiming “95 per cent” of NRL stars wouldn’t know what their Players Union is fighting for, but the RLPA boss fired back at the Raiders mentor.

“In most union-led movements ... if the expectation is to expect 100 per cent (of members) to know every single item that is in the claims, that is an unrealistic expectation,” Newton said.

The NRL has offered the RLPA a $1.347 billion deal - the first $1b pay deal in the code’s 115-year history, with the average NRL player’s salary to rise to $400,000 under a new CBA.

But Newton says the Mexican stand-off is not solely about salaries and has appealed for NRL chief executive Abdo to return to the negotiating table in a last-ditch bid to smoke the peace pipe.

Asked if he hates or distrusts Abdo, Newton said: “No, that’s too strong. Too strong.

“After 20 months of protracted negotiations, we put through a settlement proposal a few weeks ago.

“The NRL had over 100 changes in their response, then they walked away and gave the players a take-it-or-leave-it (ultimatum) and that’s how this has come about.

“The reality is while one party in a two-person negotiation doesn’t want to negotiate anymore, this will keep going on and on and on.

“The only way this will get solved is if people (the NRL) come back to the table.”

Newton blasted suggestions he is being difficult and said it would be a “sad” state of affairs if NRL players were forced to eventually strike.

“I can’t guarantee anything, but wouldn’t it be a sad indictment on the game if it got to that (strike action)?” Newton said.

“It’s pretty simple. It’s not rocket science.

“Park the relationship (between Newton and Abdo), put both proposals side by side, look at the outstanding items and let’s go through it.”

PAY WAR EXPOSES NRL PLAYERS TO SACK

- Michael Carayannis

The RLPA’s bungled handling of collective-barging talks has left players exposed to being fined or at worst facing the sack with experts claiming their media blackout could be a breach of their contractual obligations.

Players since Thursday have refused to fulfil their contractual obligations after deciding to boycott media partners who tip in millions of dollars to keep the game afloat.

It is understood the NRL have explored their legal options. Clubs could also be in their right to take action against players for not fulfilling their contractual requirements.

Leading sports lawyer – and former first grader with South Sydney and Gold Coast – Tim Fuller said the players run the risk of being fined, suspended or even sacked because of the RLPA’s decision.

“Players are required to observe and comply with the terms of their playing contracts and this includes media obligations,” Fuller said.

“If they do not, they are at risk of being fined, suspended or even terminated of their contracts. By following the direction of the RLPA, it is arguable that they are in danger of breaching their contracts.”

It is uncertain whether the players are in breach of their contractual obligations.

The players’ stance includes shunning any television partners, radio or print media when games are played. That means fans have been unable to hear from their heroes this weekend. Wednesday’s final State of Origin clash is the first big event to be overshadowed by the unprecedented blackout.

“In normal circumstances it would be contestable with a CBA having expired, the rugby league players association and players are not bound by the specific terms of that CBA,” Fuller said.

“However, the 2022 CBA was rolled over by mutual agreement for 12 months. Based on this and with the roll over term having full force, it is certainly arguable that the players are in breach.

“The ball is now in the NRL’s court. Based on the above it would be well within the rights of the NRL to take action on these events.”

There is no end-date for the players boycott and if a resolution is not found the next step for the playing group could be striking from matches.

In an NRL playing contract the players must “punctually attend appointments arrange by the club or the NRL to make appearances for the purposes of media”.

Former Brisbane Broncos player James Segeyaro (left) and his lawyer Tim Fuller (right).

This is the second boycott the players have staged this year.

Heading into the season they refused to partake in any promotional work for the NRL which led to the season launch being scrapped.

Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, who is the principal of Brydens Lawyers, said in January the players’ actions back then could have potential have legal ramifications.

“Strictly speaking, refusal to participate in these events could be construed as a breach of contract,” he said on SEN after the players’ initial refusal to partake in certain pre-season commitments.

Talks between the two parties have been ongoing for 20 months.

The RLPA has called for an independent mediator as they battle with the governing body over a range of measures including data ownership, integrity unit process, financial reporting and any change in number of matches played in a season.

RLPA operations manager Tom Symonds admitted that the players were aware that they were in potential breach of their contract and that they could be torn-up.

“The players are well aware of the risks, just like any industrial action in any industry,’’ Symonds said on Triple M.

“Industrial action has risks.”

MONEY FIGHT: STUART PUSHES FOR EQUAL TEST PAY

—Peter Badel

Former Australia coach Ricky Stuart has thrown his support behind Pasifika players, calling for Tonga and Samoa Test stars to be paid the same as their Kangaroos and New Zealand rivals.

Stuart’s stance came as long-serving Tonga coach Kristian Woolf revealed the emerging rugby league nation has had to turn to sponsors in a desperate bid to pay their biggest Test top-liners, including co-captain Jason Taumalolo.

The code’s bitter Collective Bargaining Agreement saga took another twist on Thursday after NRL CEO Andrew Abdo claimed the RLPA had rejected a proposal for standardised match payments for all international players.

Ricky Stuart prior to coaching the Kangaroos in the 2008 World Cup.

The NRL has tabled a deal to introduce a fixed $5000 Test match payment to ensure Pasifika players from two-tier nations Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea are aligned with tier-one powerhouses Australia and New Zealand.

While the likes of Taumalolo, David Fifita and Junior Paulo have represented Tonga and Samoa for $250 or no payment at all, Australian stars such as James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell have pocketed up to $20,000 for a Test match.

The code’s Pasifika contingent comprise an estimated 48 per cent of NRL-contracted players and Stuart says it’s time to put Tonga and Samoa Test representatives on the same financial playing field.

“I agree 100 per cent that there should be equal pay for Test players,” said Stuart, who coached Australia between 2006-2008.

“If there were no payments for players, you wouldn’t have anyone playing Test football long term.

“They are putting in the same work and effort in the Test arena, so we need to have equal payment across the board whether it’s Australia or Tonga.

“We are just getting wonderful interest in the game between Tonga and Samoa and those guys deserve to be on the same money as New Zealand and Australian representatives.

“To disadvantage those players would be unfair and they won’t play.

“We’re only just starting to get an international game that is exciting and growing.”

Head Coach of Tonga Kristian Woolf. Picture: Getty Images

Woolf, who famously orchestrated Tonga’s charge to the 2017 World Cup semi-finals, welcomed the prospect of Pasifika players having Test match payments increased to $5000.

“It’s something that has gradually improved but it would be great to get to a point where we have equality across the board,” said Woolf, also Wayne Bennett’s assistant coach at the Dolphins.

“We still haven’t reached what the bigger countries like Australia and England and New Zealand can pay and that’s what we want to get to.

“There have been some trips where our guys have been paid zero and some trips the guys have been paid $250, it’s increased at times to $500.

“We have been a bit better off the last few years where we have been able to get up to around $2500 and Samoa have been similar.

“We always tried to give the players whatever we could through money that came in through some small sponsorships.

Jason Taumalolo in action for Tonga. Picture: Getty Images

“It (fixed Test payments) should be part of the (CBA) discussions absolutely.

“I think we are around 45 to 48 per cent Polynesian players in the NRL, it’s a big percentage of the representation of what makes up the RLPA.

“I would like to think we are getting to a point where that (standardised payments) are a part of the CBA and we are looking for some parity there among all the nations.

“For World Cups, we have got a bit from the Tongan government, but largely we have had to raise money ourselves to pay the players.

“For Tongan players to receive something formally from the CBA to recognise them as professionals and to get the right staff would be great.”

RLPA boss Clint Newton insists the Players’ Union is not attempting to rip-off Pasifika Test stars.

“We’re not discriminating against the Polynesian players or teams. There is no prejudice whatsoever,” he said.

“We want to create a model that provides international players with equal payments in all NRL-run tournaments - but we’re proposing that the payments must come from the revenues that are generated by that event.

“We aren’t disputing standardised payments, but it’s not sustainable if the international game isn’t flush with revenue.

“When I ask the NRL to tell us how much a certain international tournament is expected to generate, they say they don’t know.”

Originally published as NRL v RLPA: Gorden Tallis launches brutal offensive against Clint Newtown