From Zero Tackle,
NRL pay dispute erupts
The Rugby League Players Association is trying to strike a pay deal with the NRL that is similar to the one they knocked back a month ago.
The two parties are trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement for the past three months, yet
no agreement has been reached.
The most lucrative deal offered would have left the playing group in a financial position $10 million better off than the offer now on the table.
However, the RLPA requested more time and information to make a decision. Given some other entitlements – such as the injury hardship and retirement funds – would be affected, they were pushing for a drop of just 2.5 per cent.
The new deal is believed to involve a salary cap decrease of 10 per cent, which leaves the playing group $10 million worse off.
The negotiations come at a time when the NRL announced the need to slash $50 million in costs to stay financially stable in the COVID crisis.
From Sporting News,
Alex Johnston reveals disappointment at not initially being offered a contract by the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs flyer Alex Johnston has revealed his disappointment at not initially being offered a new contract by the club earlier this year.
Last week, the
Rabbitohs backflipped and announced they had re-signed Johnston on a two-year deal until the end of 2022.
Earlier in the season,
Johnston all but confirmed that it appeared he would be moved on from the Rabbitohs at the end of this season.
While Johnston is obviously ecstatic to be staying at Redfern, he admits that initially he was quite disappointed at being told there was no room for him at the club where he started as a local junior.
Speaking on
Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Johnston spoke about his new contract and his dealings with the Rabbitohs to date.
"I've got to be honest, I was pretty upset at the time when they first told me they weren't going to re-sign me," Johnston said.
"I was pretty gutted but I sort of used that as motivation to go out there and prove what I can do and play some good footy.
"I think in the end, it helped me and it helped them make a decision that 'you know what, we've got to keep this bloke'.
"I'm stoked that it finally turned around for me."
There were passionate pleas from many for the Rabbitohs to hold onto Johnston,
including teammate Cody Walker.
Plenty of speculation around Johnston was that he would replace Josh Addo-Carr at the Melbourne Storm if the NSW-flyer got his way for a return to Sydney.
The Souths winger admitted that he was 'close' to joining the Storm but the Rabbitohs' 11th-hour bid was too good to refuse.
"It all happened pretty quickly," Johnston said of the South Sydney offer.
"I was close to going down to Melbourne there and I probably had a couple of days before having to make a decision and Souths came to the table and said 'we're going to make you an offer'.
"It happened pretty quickly but once the offer was on the table, I pretty much put pen to paper."
While Johnston admitted the current lockdown in Melbourne played into his decision to turn down the Storm, there were 'other factors' there as well.
Since re-signing with the Rabbitohs, he put in a strong performance against the Wests Tigers last Thursday.
That included setting up centre Campbell Graham for this well-worked try.
But much of the attention was on his bombed try in the second half that could have sealed the match for the Bunnies.
"I knew you were going to bring it up," Johnston laughed.
"I think if I catch that and score, Tigers go on to win the game.
"It was intentional...nah."
The South Sydney Rabbitohs host the Bulldogs next Thursday as they look to climb a few more places in the top eight ahead of the finals.
