NRL axes season launch with players pay dispute unresolved

The NRL canceled its start of the season for the second straight year as a pay dispute with its players remains unresolved at this time.

With talks ongoing over the contract between the competition and the player, the NRL had decided to defuse the risk of any tension at the event scheduled for Thursday.

NRL players had indicated they were ready to boycott the start of the season – and not ruled out strike action – although discussions about the CBA are progressing well at the moment.

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The competition authority announced the reason for the cancellation in a statement.

“Due to ongoing collective bargaining, the NRL will not be holding a season-opening event this Thursday as originally planned,” a statement released to News Corp said.

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

It is the second year in a row that the NRL start has not taken place after the 2022 event was not held due to flooding in the Penrith area.

What do the players want from the new collective agreement?

Contrary to popular belief, players are not after more money.

Just before Christmas, the NRL announced increased salary caps for the competitions, increasing by around 25 percent for men and 153 percent for women.

The RLPA says the salary cap was set without consultation and refused to acknowledge many issues players wanted to address.

In addition, they feel that the Commission has lacked respect throughout the process.

“Announcing new salary caps for players without their consent and bypassing their association is unprecedented and to the best of our knowledge, clubs were also only given the details of the new salary caps and player payment structure around five minutes before the ARLCs public announcement,” said the chairman of the RLPA, Deirdre Anderson AM, in a statement following the NRL’s announcement.

“For a governing body to set its own salary cap is a disregard for the whole player representation movement and the importance of collective bargaining.

“Today’s announcement violates good faith negotiations and only damages trust between the players and the governing body.”

This week, the RLPA outlined exactly what they stand for:

New medical support fund

“In the current CBA, players have only 12 months to pay for surgeries and rehabilitation that will help repair the injuries sustained during their careers,” the RLPA said.

“Players want the game’s first medical support fund to ensure that former NRL and NRLW players can cover these surgeries well into their retirement.”

A NRLW CBA

“A women’s CBA would provide the contractual certainty players need and full terms and conditions that would help protect them and their families.”

Better conditions for the most vulnerable players

“Players need better training wages, better minimum wages, more contracts and contract security, gaming fees and transitional payments – all to support players, but especially those in the middle and lower income brackets.”

New program for former players

“The players’ careers are getting shorter, the game faster and harder.

“It can be over at any moment, and you can’t always choose when that moment is. We need to help NRL and NRLW players transition to life off the pitch.”

Fair Agreement Rights

“Agreement rights include hours worked (obligations), the number of games played, wage structures, when players can contract, pregnancy and parenting policies, and fines (which are illegal in other workplaces).”

Improved hardship fund for injuries

“It has to account for the additional eligible players (more than 250 across 10 women’s teams and The Dolphins) coming into the CBA model.

“It must be expanded to also support players who suffer serious injuries and are unable to sign a new contract until they are fully rehabilitated.”

Fair share of sales

“If players help the game generate more money than expected, they should get their fair share.

“That percentage doesn’t just go towards salaries. Players want it to fund new programs and services that support current, future and former players.”