NRL players won’t speak to media this round in an escalation of pay dispute

NRL players have taken their anger with stalled pay deal talks to a new level for this weekend’s round of matches.

NRL players won’t be doing media interviews this weekend. Picture: Ben Clark

Fed up with the NRL’s stalling tactics in the ongoing pay war, players will launch a game-day media blackout from this weekend in a bid to bring league officials back to the negotiating table.

The players’ union announced the dramatic measures on Wednesday, confirming they would come into effect from Thursday and include game 3 of the State of Origin series next week.

In a statement, the Rugby League Players Association said the lack of effort from the NRL in pay discussions, which have been going on for more than a year, had forced the move.

“We have been forced into this position because of the NRL’s take-it-or-leave-it offer for your CBA,” the RLPA said.

“The NRL and ARL Commission have effectively halted negotiations.

“We are the party that is trying to keep things moving and reach an agreeable position. They have accepted all concessions the players made to settle negotiations but have made over 100 changes which further erode player positions.”

“This unreasonable ultimatum from the game’s administrators has forced players to take action that will see all players boycott media obligations on any day there is an NRL, NRLW or State of Origin match.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says ‘everybody wants to get a deal done’. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Under the plan, players will not speak to broadcasters on TV or radio or print journalists from the first match of the week until the end of the round.

In response, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo hit back at the union, declaring the league “had listened” and said the $1.347bn in player payments put forward in their deal “represents a genuine opportunity to change the way in which the players are in the game as partners”.

He said the deal addressed significant issues in the game, increased the salary cap by more than 25 per cent and he was disappointed in the RLPA’s move that “only punishes the fans”.

“We’ve spent thousands of hours at the negotiating table trying to find resolutions to the problems which remain,” he said.

“Our role is to act in the best interest of the game long term and to consider all stakeholders. That is a difficult position to be in, it’s what leadership is about, making tough, strong decisions in the interest of the game long term.

“Everybody wants to get a deal done.”

Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton says the NRL isn’t playing ball. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley)

RLPA boss Clint Newton said players deserve to have their rights and welfare protected”.

“Over the 20 past months, we have seen a disturbing pattern of behaviour from the NRL and ARL Commission. What we have seen is a failure to respect the role of the players’ representative body, erosion of fundamental player rights and attempts to buy off players without understanding this CBA is about so much more than money,” he said.

“They have failed to honour their commitments in providing a CBA everyone can be proud of – one that respects the players’ irreplaceable role. They did not properly disclose financial information and payments owed to the players and disregarded their collective concerns.

“The players have shown tremendous patience and goodwill throughout this process, but their trust and resolve have been tested time and time again.”

Last month, the RLPA board, after a meeting between the RLPA, clubs and the NRL, resolved not to make any settlement that compromised its own position.

NRL MEDIA BLACKOUT

• Pre-match interviews (TV, radio, print, NRL.com) Half-time interviews (TV);

• Post-match interviews (TV, radio, print, NRL.com)

• Post-match press conference

• Media opportunities in the dressing rooms (TV, radio, print, NRL.com); and

• Media opportunities in mixing zones (TV, radio, print, NRL.com)

Originally published as NRL players won’t speak to media this round in an escalation of pay dispute