Season in Jeopardy

[RedVHeartbeat]

The NRL pay dispute has escalated, with players now threatening a competition-wide strike, if the new collective bargaining agreement isn't finalised soon. With the opening round just weeks away, the new season could now be delayed or even cancelled.

Is this a case of pure greed or are those threatening to strike the ones on lower tier wages as surely with the salary cap increase everyone is now getting a healthy piece of the pie. 100 years or is as recently as 50 years ago the workers called people prepared to replace a striking worker , 'scabs'. Are the 200 overseas players ready to be put on a plane by the NRL should the strike eventuate, be also called 'scabs'. I think not as they may just save the season from complete disaster.

 

[GCRV]

The NRL pay dispute has escalated, with players now threatening a competition-wide strike, if the new collective bargaining agreement isn't finalised soon. With the opening round just weeks away, the new season could now be delayed or even cancelled.

Is this a case of pure greed or are those threatening to strike the ones on lower tier wages as surely with the salary cap increase everyone is now getting a healthy piece of the pie. 100 years or is as recently as 50 years ago the workers called people prepared to replace a striking worker , 'scabs'. Are the 200 overseas players ready to be put on a plane by the NRL should the strike eventuate, be also called 'scabs'. I think not as they may just save the season from complete disaster.

Personally I think it's good for them and I support their decision. V'landeys and Abdo have to go!

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Does anyone know if any Dragons are involved in this strike activity?

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

This Tele release may just have answered my own question.
'Players from both the Sharks and Dragons cancelled media opportunities at the last minute in recent days, leaving journalists, photographers and the NRL’s entire media unit in the lurch.

 

[RedV01]

Does anyone know if any Dragons are involved in this strike activity?

Seems to be the every club.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Personally I think it's good for them and I support their decision.

Well I guess it is democracy at work. As long as they dont go too far and hold the footy loving public to ransom.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Are the 200 overseas players ready to be put on a plane by the NRL

Evidently this is not quite correct. The American Rugby League made the offer to send its players as yet no word whether the NRL bosses have accepted. A case of different takes on the strike story, I happened to read and accept the wrong one.

 

[Eric]

Evidently this is not quite correct. The American Rugby League made the offer to send its players as yet no word whether the NRL bosses have accepted. A case of different takes on the strike story, I happened to read and accept the wrong one.

NSW Cup is almost certainly higher quality.

 

[Morgan]

Well I guess it is democracy at work. As long as they dont go too far and hold the footy loving public to ransom.

Are Vlandys and Abdo planning to make themselves the first NRL billionaires? Where is all the money going?

One of the demands is for a much better deal for the NRLW players. This is admirable. Better they get it than Vlandys and Abdo pocket it for themselves.

 

[Chris M]

Are Vlandys and Abdo planning to make themselves the first NRL billionaires? Where is all the money going?

One of the demands is for a much better deal for the NRLW players. This is admirable. Better they get it than Vlandys and Abdo pocket it for themselves.

Anyone got a link to where the whole dispute is explained?

 

[Morgan]

Anyone got a link to where the whole dispute is explained?

NRLW star issues fresh strike warning​

Leading NRLW star Ali Brigginshaw has told the NRL to prepare for a “hairy couple of weeks”, issuing a fresh warning to the governing body that male players are willing to go on strike. Brigginshaw, who was named player of the match in Australia’s World Cup final win last year, said both male and female athletes were tired of waiting for a resolution to protracted collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.

Male players are covered by the previous CBA – which expired at the start of the new contractual year on 1 November – but female players have no CBA in place. Brisbane playmaker Brigginshaw is on the Rugby League Players Association advisory board. She said she hadn’t stepped on a field since last year’s World Cup final “purely out of stress around not wanting to get injured” and risking her chance at getting an NRLW contract. Brigginshaw suggested her male counterparts would follow suit if no CBA was finalised by the season opener on 2 March.

“I think they (the NRL) think the men will just turn around and play, but they are all holding their ground and they won’t be playing until things are sorted,” she said. “They are fully supported by the RLPA. “It’s going to be a hairy couple of weeks I guess, because the men’s games are just about to start and they need to get it sorted. “We’re fighting for them and they’re fighting for us.” Brigginshaw’s resistance to training stems from the fact that players, as opposed to clubs, are now having to foot the bill for medical insurance.

The logic behind such a move is that it would reduce tax hits for clubs given that the players were enjoying an increase in the salary cap amount ($12.1 million for the NRL, $884,000 for the NRLW). But Brigginshaw urged the NRL to reconsider, estimating it would cost “up to $3500” per player – something part-time NRLW players would struggle to cover. “They (the NRL) can come to the party,” she said.

“I’m not sure what’s holding them back, but as a playing group we are very strongly united.” Brigginshaw flagged that the NRLW season was likely to start in June, but no season length or start date have yet been locked in.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Evidently this is one of the major sticking points.

'At present, players are excluded from workers’ compensation law and are only covered for post-career surgery and rehabilitation for 12 months. They want a Medical Support Fund set up to support retired players, and those who are injured and require surgery and/or rehabilitation before they can secure a new contract'.

 

[Chris M]

Evidently this is one of the major sticking points.

'At present, players are excluded from workers’ compensation law and are only covered for post-career surgery and rehabilitation for 12 months. They want a Medical Support Fund set up to support retired players, and those who are injured and require surgery and/or rehabilitation before they can secure a new contract'.

Seems pretty reasonable. But only for injuries proven to be caused by playing the game. Every second player can't come forward 10 years later and say they have concussion related problems which may not have anything to do with playing. Heavy drinking for example can lead to brain sickness/injury.

 

[RedV01]

Seems pretty reasonable. But only for injuries proven to be caused by playing the game. Every second player can't come forward 10 years later and say they have concussion related problems which may not have anything to do with playing. Heavy drinking for example can lead to brain sickness/injury.

Would definitely need strict supervision or the Rorters will use it as part of the salary cap. Like, accept 500k less now and in 10years our doctors will make sure you get 4x that 500k.

 

[Morgan]

Newton calls for CBA priority as season nears​

The NRL season is just over a month away from starting… Hopefully.​

Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton has called for the collective bargaining agreement negotiations to be made priority until they are complete as the looming threat of strike action grows by the day. The NRL and RLPA have been locked at the negotiating table for well over 12 months over the future finances of the game.

The original October deadline - before the old CBA expired on October 31 - has well and truly come and gone, with the NRL then announcing a revised salary cap on Christmas Eve which was quickly slapped down by the RLPA as not being agreed to. Negotiations have continued since then, seemingly without any progress being made.

Now, with NRL trials just over two weeks away, and the season itself kicking off in the first week of March, the threat of strike action from the playing group has grown. It has emerged in recent days that the pre-season trials - which form part of the new pre-season challenge and will grant the winning club $100,000 in prizemoney - are now at serious risk, as is the NRL All Stars game, which is set to be held in New Zealand for the first time.

RLPA boss Newton said that it was time for long meetings to take place - in a lock-in style - to get an agreement across the line, but also told News Corp he was confident of breaking the deadlock.

“That is the only way we're going to make progress – by consistently meeting for long periods of time. That is how you'll break any type of impasse or deadlock," Newton said. “That is something we are 100 per cent committed to doing. “I am optimistic about reaching a resolution, I just can't say when. It requires both parties to reach an agreement and then you've got the clubs connected to that as well. “I think we will get there. Andrew and I reconnected last week which was good. “The players are passionate about this, as they should be, and hopefully we can get an outcome at some point.”

The RLPA are pushing the NRL on a number of sticking points, including the women's game and the funding of players once their career ends in injury, retirement and hardship programs. The NRL and RLPA are disputing the figure which has been offered by the NRL, while the NRL also believe the RLPA shouldn't have complete control of those funds. The first NRL trial is scheduled to be played on February 9.

 

[Morgan]

The NRL 'ambush' that led players to threaten boycott, and how it will happen​

The NRL trials next month are in jeopardy of being boycotted by a lightning strike from players. Players and the RLPA are fuming with the NRL over the way contract negotiations have been handled in recent months. The players won't go as far as striking during the regular season - but see boycotting the two rounds of meaningless trials as an ideal way of hurting the NRL.

"They won't listen to us and have driven us to this point," an angry player told Wide World of Sports. "They ambushed us by announcing the salary cap without even informing or consulting us. "Now they are trying to paint us out as greedy and money-hungry. "Most of our claims are for helping retired players, the women in the game and grassroots footy. "We keep hitting brick walls and need to show them that we mean business."

 

[GCRV]

The NRL 'ambush' that led players to threaten boycott, and how it will happen​

The NRL trials next month are in jeopardy of being boycotted by a lightning strike from players. Players and the RLPA are fuming with the NRL over the way contract negotiations have been handled in recent months. The players won't go as far as striking during the regular season - but see boycotting the two rounds of meaningless trials as an ideal way of hurting the NRL.

"They won't listen to us and have driven us to this point," an angry player told Wide World of Sports. "They ambushed us by announcing the salary cap without even informing or consulting us. "Now they are trying to paint us out as greedy and money-hungry. "Most of our claims are for helping retired players, the women in the game and grassroots footy. "We keep hitting brick walls and need to show them that we mean business."

Look at the bright side. If the season is called off, the Dragons might be much better next year.

 

[Eric]

5 year deal to secure the future of the women’s game​

A leaked copy of the proposal late on Monday night which features joint NRL and RLPA letterhead and confirms the women’s game is poised to enter the professional era under a charter that includes:

• A $900,000 salary cap in 2023, which rises to $1.518 million in 2027;
  
  
• A minimum wage of $30,000 in 2023, which rises to $50,600 in 2027;
  
  
• A significant rise in workload with a 20 week season slated in 2023 and 2024, expanding to 23 weeks by 2025;
  
  
• Every club will have 24 players and four development players;
  
  
• Support for pregnant players as well as leave provisions; and
  
  
• Every club to be funded with a designated NRLW welfare officer.

Also included in the private and confidential proposal is that female players will receive 50 per cent of premiership prizemoney. Crucially, the players union and NRL appear to have agreed on flexibility for expansion from 10 teams in 2023.

---

I believe Sowie took the Griffin-Young factions side in the war and of course that faction won. So Sowie has been promoted. So whoever is the women's coach this year, he or she had better bring them up to speed quickly because it looks like the best players will have a strong incentive to stick with the best teams. Given they get half of the prize money from winning the premiership.

 

[Morgan]

5-year deal to secure the future of the women’s game​

A leaked copy of the proposal late on Monday night which features joint NRL and RLPA letterhead and confirms the women’s game is poised to enter the professional era under a charter that includes:

• A $900,000 salary cap in 2023, which rises to $1.518 million in 2027;
  
  
• A minimum wage of $30,000 in 2023, which rises to $50,600 in 2027;
  
  
• A significant rise in workload with a 20 week season slated in 2023 and 2024, expanding to 23 weeks by 2025;
  
  
• Every club will have 24 players and four development players;
  
  
• Support for pregnant players as well as leave provisions; and
  
  
• Every club to be funded with a designated NRLW welfare officer.

Also included in the private and confidential proposal is that female players will receive 50 per cent of premiership prizemoney. Crucially, the players union and NRL appear to have agreed on flexibility for expansion from 10 teams in 2023.

---

I believe Sowie took the Griffin-Young factions side in the war and of course that faction won. So Sowie has been promoted. So whoever is the women's coach this year, he or she had better bring them up to speed quickly because it looks like the best players will have a strong incentive to stick with the best teams. Given they get half of the prize money from winning the premiership.

Exactly the same in the NRL, isn't it?