NRL boss has hit back at critics of vaccination stance

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has hit back at criticism of the game’s vaccination stance as the players union plans talks with clubs.

RLPA General Manager of Player and Football Operations Clint Newton.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has hit back at claims the game has shown a lack of leadership by leaving clubs to decide whether to mandate vaccinations or terminate contracts of unvaccinated players.

Abdo’s strident defence of the NRL’s position came as the frustrated players union opened direct communication with club bosses amid warnings that the game could descend into contractual chaos.

The Rugby League Players Association has been in talks with the NRL over the new Apollo protocols but it is understood they have walked away frustrated and will now take their concerns to club chief executives in an attempt to set some uniform rules around the right to dock pay or terminate contracts of players who refuse the jab.

The NRL is happy to leave the decision in the hands of individual clubs, prompting some to suggest that head office has taken the soft option.

“Leadership of the governing body or the CEO of the NRL, you have to accept the fact that people will constantly criticise anything you do,” Abdo said.

“People are entitled to their view and opinion. It is not unusual in the world of professional sport across the globe to adopt a policy that we are adopting, which is you are free to choose but there are restrictions in place to keep people safe and keep the competition going.

“The most important thing for us as a game in 2022 is going to be early detection to be able to keep playing. Even if the entire playing group was 100 percent vaccinated, there are still going to be close contacts, casual contacts and infections.

“We are going to need to detect that earlier. That is a long way of answering a question that people are entitled to their opinion but numerous governments, public sector, private sector and sporting associations have adopted an approach like ours.”

Canterbury have already informed all players and officials they expect them to be double vaccinated before they return to training next week. It is understood at least two other clubs are considering mandating vaccination, which would leave unvaccinated players cut adrift.

The NRL’s reluctance to engage the RLPA on a uniform stance comes as it emerged the executive team at Rugby League Central as well as the game’s seven commissioners had all been vaccinated against Covid-19.

At the same time, a handful of players across the clubs are yet to be double jabbed. Canterbury forward Luke Thompson and Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona are among those who are yet to be vaccinated, although it is understood both have indicated they will listen to advice and consider having the jab.

In the meantime, they will be forced to train on their own. Manly have two players who are yet to be vaccinated. It is understood one of those players is Dylan Walker, who publicly dressed down the NSW government earlier this year on social media after they demanded that players received the flu shot.

It is believed Walker received a medical exemption on that occasion and is likely to seek to do the same rather than have the Covid vaccination. Brisbane and Gold Coast are among the clubs with the least players vaccinated, although both are believed to be confident it is a case of apathy rather than players actively avoiding the shot.

The players union just wants to protect the rights of their players after the NRL released guidelines on Thursday that said the clubs would be free to mandate vaccinations and should be guided by their own legal advice when it comes to deciding on the contracts of unvaccinated players.

Privately, the players union and some club bosses are concerned about the ramifications of leaving the decision in the hands of individual clubs, as well as the implications that any contract terminations could have on the salary cap.

Their hope is that they can get the clubs to agree on a uniform policy for players who decline to be vaccinated. Club sources confirmed RLPA chief executive Clint Newton had begun reaching out to organise meetings next week to try to eliminate inconsistencies in club handling of unvaccinated players.

Leaving the decision in the hands of individual clubs has opened a can of worms that could create havoc across the game. There is every chance that neighbouring clubs could have differing policies even though they are located in the same state.

A player could conceivably be sacked by one club and picked up by another almost immediately. The RLPA is asking for clarity around how that would impact the salary cap.

So too the clubs. The AFL deemed that clubs would be within their rights to terminate contracts of unvaccinated players by May next year. The NRL has left it to the clubs to make the call.