Recruitment 2023 NRL Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA

[Defence]

There are some hard luck stories out there for sure (as there are in all walks of life) but tbh the vast majority of nrl players do very well post playing career- being an nrl player- even if u only played a handful of games- opens a lot of doors esp in Australia.

 

[mt.wellington]

There are some hard luck stories out there for sure (as there are in all walks of life) but tbh the vast majority of nrl players do very well post playing career- being an nrl player- even if u only played a handful of games- opens a lot of doors esp in Australia.

As the story states the issue is that there is no recourse for rehabilitation. If I get injured at work I'm covered under ACC. No such luck with the NRL. Thats unacceptable.

Its important not to diminish one players suffering because the rest have 'doors opened to them'. They should all enjoy a relatively healthy life after putting their bodies on the line for what is a private enterprise...

 

[Defence]

As the story states the issue is that there is no recourse for rehabilitation. If I get injured at work I'm covered under ACC. No such luck with the NRL. Thats unacceptable.

Its important not to diminish one players suffering because the rest have 'doors opened to them'. They should all enjoy a relatively healthy life after putting their bodies on the line for what is a private enterprise...

Yeah I agree- we need to look after that small minority but giving them all a pension- fark no.

 

[wizards rage]

As the story states the issue is that there is no recourse for rehabilitation. If I get injured at work I'm covered under ACC. No such luck with the NRL. Thats unacceptable.

Its important not to diminish one players suffering because the rest have 'doors opened to them'. They should all enjoy a relatively healthy life after putting their bodies on the line for what is a private enterprise...

Devils advocate - he didn’t work for 2 years because he didn’t have to and he was depressed. I would argue more money wouldn’t have helped.

It’s more than likely he was in shock, grieving the loss of his career, his unfulfilled potential and what could have been. Those are welfare issues more than financial, but those welfare issues ultimately turn into a financial one…

Investment in post career support, assistance, welfare and covering all medical costs from profits would have helped more than extra pay while playing or a cash payout and then being ignored.

Distributing too much to the players in the short term, stops the NRL from being able to support the game financially far and wide.

 

[Dixpat]

[/QUOTE]

Rioting and ugly scenes in Melbourne over a soccer game, apparently after the governing body decided that the grand final will be in Sydney for the next 3 years.

The governing body has a lot of stakeholders that it has to cater to. Nobody is ever happy all the time.

I support players being looked after as much as possible but it’s a balancing act.

As I understand it the governing body is in the hole for $12m due to one of the streaming partners (Paramount) not selling enough subscriptions and so triggering some clause in the contract allowing them to pay less.

So the decision was made to sell the GF rights for the next 3 years to Destination Sydney to fill that hole.

There have been protests at all games this weekend including in Wellington when the Phoenix played but the Melbourians took it to a new level

 

[mt.wellington]

Devils advocate - he didn’t work for 2 years because he didn’t have to and he was depressed. I would argue more money wouldn’t have helped.

It’s more than likely he was in shock, grieving the loss of his career, his unfulfilled potential and what could have been. Those are welfare issues more than financial, but those welfare issues ultimately turn into a financial one…

Investment in post career support, assistance, welfare and covering all medical costs from profits would have helped more than extra pay while playing or a cash payout and then being ignored.

Distributing too much to the players in the short term, stops the NRL from being able to support the game financially far and wide.

You realise mental health is part of it right???

 

[mt.wellington]

Yeah I agree- we need to look after that small minority but giving them all a pension- fark no.

Yeah fuck that. Wasn't advocating for a pension. Dont think any game does that do they?

All Im saying is if a player gets injured playing the game that injury should be looked after medically as much as possible to allow that player to live a better life. Tuaki is a classic example. To be dumped and ignored after a freak tackle is disgraceful. Remember the McCracken lawsuit after he was spear tackled? He didnt want to sue the players but it was the only way he could get medical help...

 

[wizards rage]

You realise mental health is part of it right???

That was the point of my post.

More long term support (post career support, assistance, welfare and covering all medical costs) would be preferable to short term higher pay then being cut loose financially.

 

[Since95]

Are we heading for the first-ever NRL Lockout?

With a year of talks resulting in nothing so far, is the worst-case scenario a genuine possibility?

www.zerotackle.com

This is a possibility although I suspect players could play under open ended contracts.

I think 150K is pretty steep for fringe players squad players. 100K is enough I would have thought.

Given the amount of money they pull in seems fair to be honest. But the issue becomes getting your moneys worth. Eg. NFL have media committments and in some cases players come out sit there and don't say a lot to fulfill those obligations.

 

[Wrighty]

Are we heading for the first-ever NRL Lockout?

With a year of talks resulting in nothing so far, is the worst-case scenario a genuine possibility?

www.zerotackle.com

This is a possibility although I suspect players could play under open ended contracts.

I think 150K is pretty steep for fringe players squad players. 100K is enough I would have thought.

Given the amount of money they pull in seems fair to be honest. But the issue becomes getting your moneys worth. Eg. NFL have media committments and in some cases players come out sit there and don't say a lot to fulfill those obligations.

How do you all feel about no NRL in 2023?

 

[ndp26]

How do you all feel about no NRL in 2023?

I feel like it would mean that all the sacrifices made during COVID have been forgotten about... COVID showed what a united game could achieve.
I'd hope like hell both sides are compromising on their positions - i.e., a true negotiation where neither side walks away happy, but they're both not too unhappy - to get the CBA squared away. The NRL needs to strike a careful balance between entertainment, player welfare and growth of the game - no small feat, but hopefully doable. On the other side of the coin, the players also need to be realistic that the NRL is (at the end of the day) a business and the game is bigger than the ~450 NRL players that play in any one year (e.g., NRLW, reserve grade, age group, grassroots, etc.). If they want to cry fowl about the risks they take in playing - they ought to think about the guys/gals playing park footy who also risk their careers each weekend playing the game they love (but without the pay-checks that come with it). If both sides are being reasonable and realistic with their positions, surely common sense will have to prevail in the end and they get to a result!

 

[Cces]

Why can't Taupau get a gig because of the CBA but Ben Murdoch-Masila can sign a multi year deal? Surely there's not a huge difference in their market value?

 

[Blain]

Why can't Taupau get a gig because of the CBA but Ben Murdoch-Masila can sign a multi year deal? Surely there's not a huge difference in their market value?

Because cap space currently is lower than what it's going to be. Clubs can't register contracts because it would put them over the current cap. Dragons likely have space to play with, where as the Tigers and Eels don't.

The Eels need to release Brown to the Tigers to sign Taupau, and The Tigers can't sign him until the cap goes up. The Eels clearly can't afford both.

 

[Noitall]

It will be interesting to see how the NRL handle things if the new CBA doesn't get approved before the 2023 season starts. especially given the following reports:

• Dean Ritchie reporting that the Panthers have only officially signed 26 players for their top 30 ... they have a couple more they want to sign but can't because they have no cap space to move
• Lodge can't get his contract registered with the Roosters unless the cap increase comes into affect
• the Tigers want to make an offer to Nathan Brown, but can't do anything until the cap situation is sorted
• If Nathan Brown does head to the Tigers, then the Eels will make an offer to Marty Taupau ... both clubs and the players involved are currently stuck in limbo

 

[Cces]

• Dean Ritchie reporting that the Panthers have only officially signed 26 players for their top 30 ... they have a couple more they want to sign but can't because they have no cap space to move

Is there a minimum number of players you need on your books by a certain date apart from 30 before end of July?

 

[Wrighty]

I feel like it would mean that all the sacrifices made during COVID have been forgotten about... COVID showed what a united game could achieve.
I'd hope like hell both sides are compromising on their positions - i.e., a true negotiation where neither side walks away happy, but they're both not too unhappy - to get the CBA squared away. The NRL needs to strike a careful balance between entertainment, player welfare and growth of the game - no small feat, but hopefully doable. On the other side of the coin, the players also need to be realistic that the NRL is (at the end of the day) a business and the game is bigger than the ~450 NRL players that play in any one year (e.g., NRLW, reserve grade, age group, grassroots, etc.). If they want to cry fowl about the risks they take in playing - they ought to think about the guys/gals playing park footy who also risk their careers each weekend playing the game they love (but without the pay-checks that come with it). If both sides are being reasonable and realistic with their positions, surely common sense will have to prevail in the end and they get to a result!

Thank you brother fan
I don't think management can compromise on issues such as

1) The players body gets to be consulted and veto any change to the rules. Where is the compromise room there, it is a yes or no decision and neither side wants to budge.

2) The players apparently want a pension. If the NRL compromises and sets up a small pension then they set a vehicle up that will get renegotiated into a big cost next time. Both sides are bargaining for keeps and the long game on this issue.

This seems to be a once in a generation CBA with the issues on the table.

The only option I can see is to lock out the players and make the players go without pay all season until they come desperate for any deal and give up on their transformational ideas..

A lock out seems the logical next step and either cancelling the season or losing half the season.

I am sorry but we fans need to accept this season will be forfeited to break the spirit of the players make them cave in.

 

[Noitall]

Is there a minimum number of players you need on your books by a certain date apart from 30 before end of July?

Each team must have 29 top 30 players by the first Monday in March.

 

[wizards rage]

Thank you brother fan
I don't think management can compromise on issues such as

1) The players body gets to be consulted and veto any change to the rules. Where is the compromise room there, it is a yes or no decision and neither side wants to budge.

2) The players apparently want a pension. If the NRL compromises and sets up a small pension then they set a vehicle up that will get renegotiated into a big cost next time. Both sides are bargaining for keeps and the long game on this issue.

This seems to be a once in a generation CBA with the issues on the table.

The only option I can see is to lock out the players and make the players go without pay all season until they come desperate for any deal and give up on their transformational ideas..

A lock out seems the logical next step and either cancelling the season or losing half the season.

I am sorry but we fans need to accept this season will be forfeited to break the spirit of the players make them cave in.

1 - An agreement could be negotiated where certain major rules are at the NRL’s sole discretion and others minor rules are to be worked through together.

Or rules are at the NRL’s discretion but the player group can veto them only under certain conditions. I support the players group having input in a consultation phase but not having veto rights.

2 - the way around the pension would be X% of the games incomes goes to the playing group. Currently it’s around 30%? That’s it. Then put it on the players organisation to work out what percentage of their share they want as pay and what as a pension. Put it all back on the players.

 

[Since95]

How do you all feel about no NRL in 2023?

Yeah real possibility.

This is left field but what if we started the season with players without contracts fill the void? Similar to the movie Replacements?!

Coaches can roll out extended squad or players not linked to the CBA players union. See which coach has the best skills with a clean slate haha.

 

[ndp26]

Thank you brother fan
I don't think management can compromise on issues such as

1) The players body gets to be consulted and veto any change to the rules. Where is the compromise room there, it is a yes or no decision and neither side wants to budge.

2) The players apparently want a pension. If the NRL compromises and sets up a small pension then they set a vehicle up that will get renegotiated into a big cost next time. Both sides are bargaining for keeps and the long game on this issue.

This seems to be a once in a generation CBA with the issues on the table.

The only option I can see is to lock out the players and make the players go without pay all season until they come desperate for any deal and give up on their transformational ideas..

A lock out seems the logical next step and either cancelling the season or losing half the season.

I am sorry but we fans need to accept this season will be forfeited to break the spirit of the players make them cave in.

I don't know if the players will be united enough to sit out for the season - there would be too many varied opinions/interests across the player group. I'd suspect the RLPA are using the media to try and get public support for their positions to assist in negotiations (which would explain why Newton is the only one talking to the media). However, I'd hope both sides default to reasonable. commercial and realistic positions as the season draws near!