‘We can’t send the game bankrupt’: Abdo fires shot over NRL player dispute

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has blamed the Rugby League Players Association’s unwillingness to compromise for the stalemate in negotiations over pay and conditions that threatens to derail the start of the season.

In a wide-ranging interview at his Moore Park office, Abdo spoke about the hostile and protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiations that have led to players boycotting official NRL media and promotional events, and raised the prospect of strike action in the preseason trials.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says he was hopeful player strikes could be avoided in the protracted dispute.Credit:Janie Barrett

“This argument that the NRL hasn’t prioritised or shown respect to the players is simply not true,” Abdo told the Herald.

“We have spent months listening and refining our offers to the RLPA for a new CBA. The RLPA have not shown much movement in their statements of claims over this period. In my view, the prioritisation and compromise has been one-sided. We could shake hands now, and accept every claim being made.

“My life would become a whole lot easier and we could get back to focusing on growing the sport. But we are custodians for the game. We can’t send the game bankrupt. The accountability for thinking long-term and in the best interests of all stakeholders sits with the commission.

“As CEO of the NRL I am accountable to get a deal done. It needs to be a fair and reasonable deal. I take that very seriously. However, in order to do that I need to be able to work with a counterparty that’s willing to prioritise and compromise.”

RLPA boss Clint Newton hit back, saying the association had not been granted one in-person meeting with the NRL to trade off and bargain individual claims.

“Our board and the players’ expectation is to now get in a room and work through line by line, whether positions are agreed, not agreed and why,” Newton told the Herald.

“Why are some of these things not acceptable to the ARLC? Why shouldn’t the players have certain terms and conditions that would be considered in line with other codes or industry-approved best-practice? State it. State your position in a room and why and let’s get into it.”

Strike action

The NRL boss said the threat of strikes had not yet been raised and he remained hopeful such a measure could be avoided, adding if players did pull out of games they would not be protected under the current CBA.

“We’ll do everything we can to avoid that,” Abdo said of strikes.

“To take that level of action would be a massive call for the RLPA to make. I really hope we don’t get to that point. Everyone loses in that scenario, fans most of all.

“I’m disappointed [with recent boycotts] because the person who really suffers here is the fan. We’re just custodians for the game. If the NRL suffers, then so do the clubs, so do the players and so grassroots. That’s how the model works.”

Why isn’t a deal done yet?

Abdo said the NRL had made three revised offers to players since its original proposal on the eve of last year’s finals series.

Abdo rejected suggestions an agreement was being made more difficult by a clash of personalities between himself and Newton.

The key differences

WHAT THE NRL HAS OFFERED

WHAT THE RLPA WANT

Rather, he said the RLPA’s unrealistic expectations and inability to compromise were to blame for an embarrassing situation for the sport so close to the March 2 season launch.

Before negotiations, the RLPA had sought advice from rival sports to determine the best position for its players.

“The RLPA have put together the gold standard of a CBA from a player’s perspective only,” Abdo said. “Our job is to ensure we consider all stakeholders and the game overall. We need to hear from them what is important so we can narrow the issues and problem solve.”

Player benefit entitlements

The RLPA is seeking $200 million in additional funding on top of the salary cap to provide the players, including a retirement fund and injury hardship fund.

Abdo said the NRL had no issue with increasing player entitlements but wanted control over how those funds would be spent.

“The RLPA is seeking full autonomy on a significant amount of player funds,” Abdo said.

“That’s not good governance. As the governing body for the sport, the commission needs assurances on the funding allocated to various areas and a governance model that protects the game.”

Agreement rights

The RLPA has been successful in negotiating a range of new agreement rights for the players, including any changes to the season structure, playing contract, player registration fee and principles of the illicit drug policy.

The one issue the NRL is refusing to budge on is handing the players a voice in determining the rules of the game.

“An independent commission, as the peak governing body for rugby league, will need to be able to make changes from time to time to protect the sport or help grow the sport,” Abdo said.

“Not every stakeholder will agree with those changes, but that’s why you have an independent commission set up to begin with.”

The women’s game

The NRL still has not announced a draw for the 2023 NRLW season. Nor has it opened the contract window for female players to secure their future.

Abdo said the RLPA had stalled the NRL’s plans, including a provision in the CBA that would allow the NRLW to expand to 12 teams within the next five years.

“We had our 2023 NRLW draw ready to go, but the RLPA asked us not to release it,” he said.

“The clubs and NRL want to start the contracting process with players, as do the players, but the RLPA asked us to wait. We have put forward a detailed plan for the female players. We are ready to go and hopefully we can finalise this as a priority.

“How could we not be aiming to grow the number of NRLW teams in the next five years? The RLPA have proposed staying at 10 teams only and effectively a veto right on the growth of the women’s game. We’re the ones pushing for growth to 12 teams when the time is right.”

Newton, however, said the women supported the RLPA’s stance.

“We have been transparent with our members,” he said. “Our issue with releasing a schedule was because their terms and conditions is connected with the length of the season and the obligations that come with that. We have 100 rookies coming into an NRLW competition.

“A core principle of ours is to ensure players aren’t signing contracts that lack certainty and provides protection to players. We have not sat down to even work through the NRLW playing contract.”

Do the players understand the offer?

The NRL holds strong reservations over the level of detail being put forward to the players.

“I feel like a lot of the information has been lost in translation,” Abdo said. “And the message of what we’re trying to achieve, and the offer itself, has not been distilled in a way which reflects the facts and intention of it.”

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