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2023 Rabbitohs Rumors, Signings and News

callmack1

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From Zero Tackle,

Players' group blasts 'false, offensive' claims from ARL Commission, V'landys

An advisory group consisting of a number of high-profile players has slammed the ARLC for its handling of pay talks as the situation drags on for another week with no sign of resolution.

The advisory group has hit back at claims made by Peter V'landys this week that the union had been misleading players about offers made by the NRL.

The group, which includes Daly Cherry-Evans, Wade Graham, Christian Welch, Damien Cook, Ali Brigginshaw, Millie Boyle and James Tamou, released a statement on Friday hitting back at the claims made by the ARLC chair, with negotiations still continuing nearly two weeks after the most recent CBA between the parties expired.

“To have the Commission publicly claim that the wider playing group has been misled during the CBA negotiations, purely because we are refusing to roll over for the Commission, is not only false but offensive,” the group said in a statement, per AAP.

“It demonstrates a lack of regard to the sophistication of the playing group.

“As leaders of the players' association, we could not have been more transparent with the wider playing group around the status of negotiations and why we have rejected unsuitable and sub-standard proposals put forward by the NRL on behalf of the Commission.

The group have been vocal in their demand for certain measures, including an increase to minimum pay, a player representative on the Commission itself and the establishment of a fund to look after retired players after they leave the game.

It's been reported that the NRL have refused the majority of the group's additional demands.

“Players have regularly attended CBA meetings, however not one commissioner has attended, not even once.

“It was for this reason that it was surprising to read comments from the Commission that accused both us as player leaders and the RLPA as a whole, of misleading the playing group.

“This couldn't be further from the truth.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo met with relevant parties most recently on Tuesday. While the NRL believes the matter can be resolved quickly, the increasing uncertainty around a number of key issues refuses to subside.

There is also frustration from the NRLW, with players refusing to partake in any season launch or similar initiative due to the disrespect and continued uncertainty they've encountered during the negotiation process.

The situation is certain to evolve in coming weeks.
 

callmack1

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From the Daily Telegraph,

NRL 2023: Peter V’landys tables $1.32 billion pay deal to players, RPLA to end CBA negotiations​

After months of fiery negotiations, the NRL have tabled a historic deal to make its star players the highest-paid generation in rugby league’s 114-year history.

Peter Badel and Brent Read

The ARL Commission has tabled a landmark $1 billion deal that will make NRL stars the highest-paid generation of players in rugby league’s 114-year history.

And rugby league’s female players have also been offered a groundbreaking package with the NRLW’s elite to share in a $115 million salary bonanza.

After months of fiery negotiations between the NRL, clubs and the Rugby League Players Association, News Corp can today lift the lid on the extraordinary pay deal to make the code’s stars richer than ever.

Incredibly, the seven-figure deal - which was tabled in late September and would finally seal rugby league’s most lucrative Collective Bargaining Agreement - has been rejected by the RLPA.

Top-secret documents obtained by News Corp show the NRL has offered a record $1.32 billion deal to the code’s 510 full-time stars over the next five years - the first $1b pay deal for players in the sport’s history.

The previous five-year deal was worth $980 million. The NRL’s latest offer represents a 34 per cent funding increase and would lift the average men’s salary from $325,000 to $400,000 next season.
That’s a pay rise of 23 per cent.

At a time when the nation’s wage growth is 2.7 per cent, NRL players stand to receive a pay rise 10 times that of the average Australian.

The average NRL player’s proposed $400,000 salary is more than four times the national average wage of $92,000.

The NRL have been accused of “lowballing” the players, but these figures are emphatic evidence the code’s professionals are in line for record pay days.

Contacted by News Corp, ARLC boss Peter V’landys was tight-lipped, saying: “The negotiations are at a sensitive stage. We are comfortable with the offer we have made to the players, but we won’t be negotiating in the media.”

It can also be revealed:
• The NRL has proposed a 2023 salary-cap figure of $12.5 million from $10.2m _ an increase of 22.5 per cent;
• NRL players have been offered an extra $222 million over the next five years;
• NRL Women are set to celebrate record salaries as part of a $115m funding injection over the next five years;
• The NRLW salary cap is slated to rise from $350,000 to $800,000 next season - a whopping 146 per cent pay rise for females; and
• V’landys wants the minimum wage for NRL development players to be lifted from $80,000 this season to $125,000 next season - a 56 per cent increase for rookies.

V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo hope to finalise a $300 million funding deal to the 17 clubs this month.

Then the NRL duo will attempt to convince the RLPA to accept the $1.32 billion pay bonanza for players, a scenario that would finally deliver the code’s CBA ahead of the 2023 premiership.

The NRL has been accused of hiding the code’s finances, but these proposed pay figures are in the hands of RLPA boss Clint Newton, who has previously warned V’landys and Abdo of the dangers of acting like a “dictatorship”.

Newton is as frustrated as anyone by the delay in CBA talks, which were originally planned to be concluded mid-season but have now dragged on beyond October 31, when the existing agreement expired.

The RLPA boss insists he is not looking to have V’landys dethroned as ARLC chairman, but vowed to continue to fight for player rights.

RLPA boss Clint Newton has rejected the deal, and says he will continue to fight for the players.

“Do we want players to be pot plants where it’s this ‘shut up and play’ type attitude?” Newton said.

“The fact is, by players advocating for improvements in their terms and conditions, that absolutely has an impact on the future of the game.

“We want players to be going to rugby league because we can say (the NRL has) the best remuneration, the best support, the best services, the best wellbeing and education programs and the best opportunity to not just be good players, but good people.

“And then when they transition to retirement they have the best protections in place.”

Asked if he is gunning for V’landys over the CBA Mexican stand-off, Newton said: “No, there’s no William Wallace here - we’re not putting heads on spikes.

“Peter’s clearly passionate about the game. What I’d like to believe is that the Commission, which is clearly led by Peter as chair, understands our claims, they respect our claims and they respect the role of the players.

“If we were all moving in the same direction, we could be an absolutely formidable force in Australian sport.”
 

callmack1

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From Zero Tackle,

"Far from extraordinary": RLPA attack reported NRL CBA offer

The Rugby League Players Association have gone on the attack again, lashing the latest reported collective bargaining agreement offer.

News Corp reported on Friday that the NRL had offered increased funding to both the men's and women's game, totalling around $1.32 billion dollars.

This would see overall increases to both the men's and women's game, with the women to be included in a CBA for the first time.

Female players hit out at the NRL recently over the state of the CBA, with their draw delayed despite originally being slated to be unveiled alongside the men's draw, which was announced on Thursday.

The men's competition is still facing its own issues, with pre-season training now kicking off for clubs despite the final figure of next year's salary cap still being unclear to the competition, and the final players without deals waiting to have their futures sorted.

It led to a player advisory group, which included Daly Cherry-Evans, Damien Cook and Millie Boyle taking aim at the ARLC last week, while an open letter from the women's group also made its way into the headlines.

The RLPA have now claimed at the $1.32 billion on offer would be less percentage wise than the players earned under the last CBA, which ceased on October 31.

"The reported NRL proposal is far from extraordinary," the RLPA's statement read.

"If it was extraordinary, a recommendation would have been to accept the NRL's proposal on behalf of the players and an agreement would have been signed.

"However, because of the substandard deal on offer, we chose to reject it.

"A fundamental position for player associations in CBA negotiations is that the players' share of revenue does not go backward.

"Despite the large number in the headlines, the NRL players' share of revenue is going backward, and at a time when more players are joining the NRL competition courtesy of a 17th team and more full-time contracts are being proposed for players outside of the Top 30."

No date has been sent for the RLPA and NRL to reach an agreement, however, ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have cancelled a trip to England for the Rugby League World Cup final so that negotiations can be prioritied.
 

callmack1

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Anyone keen to get their blood boiling? Just read this article from Kent. Complete and utter BS with no evidence behind it whatsoever,

Paul Kent: CBA stoush shows rugby league’s ability to self-harm is second to none​

South Sydney are flexing their financial muscle and forgetting everything that endeared them around the league, writes PAUL KENT.

Sometime after the first Super League War ended Dawn Fraser, our greatest living Australian, nodded towards George Piggins, who might just be the second, and declared that if Piggins led Balmain instead of the Rabbitohs then Balmain would still be alive in the NRL.
As it turned out it was Souths that survived, and somewhat longer than Piggins after Souths fans turned on him less than three years later.
But such is the game it is hard to offer much more than a gentle rolling of the eyes after it emerged this past week that, of all NRL clubs, one of the teams privately aligning themselves alongside those threatening to leave and form a different league, which they would have run by different administrators, is South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs were the emotional losers from the Super League War although ultimately they weren’t the biggest losers.
North Sydney, Balmain, Western Suburbs, St George and Illawarra all sit above them on that list.
The Rabbitohs got kicked out for two seasons but the Bears are gone and the Magpie lives on the shoulder of the bastardised Balmain colours, and that’s about it for each.
The Dragons now share their rich history with a team that runs the board, and so the club, but still manages not much more than the Steelers socks when they run out each weekend.
And now it emerged the Rabbitohs, along with Penrith and several other clubs keeping in the shadows, are throwing up talk of driving a rival league against the NRL.
The ability of the game to self-harm is second to none.
Talk of a new Super League is little more than an ambit threat but, for anybody that lived through the first war, one that remains so sensitive many are wondering why they needed to go there in the first place.
Especially as it has remained most sensitive to South Sydney fans, something their club has shown little respect for in this latest episode.
For years Souths benefited from the goodwill of rival fans, respectful of the dogged fight Piggins led.
Even now, with the War leading indirectly to their current status as one of the game’s richest clubs, owned by two billionaires, who even occasionally get along to games, Souths have always carried a healthy respect from rival fans.
Under this new ownership the Rabbitohs are flexing their financial muscle and forgetting everything that endeared them around the league.
As for a rival Super League actually happening, all it does is reveal the naivety of those suggesting it. It appears inflammatory for the sake of being inflammatory, as it certainly won’t happen.
About 80 per cent of NRL revenue is taken from the broadcast deal.
The NRL is currently in partnership with the country’s two biggest media companies, News Corp and Channel 9, who would have little appetite to support a breakaway competition.
Not just that, though, while rival television networks like Channel 10 would certainly listen to the idea of having rugby league on its network there would be little appetite to take on News and Nine and the millions it would cost in legal fees.
It also raises the question, though, that if the same people suggesting they could make a go of a rival Super League are the same ones asking for more money from the NRL then the NRL should double down their efforts to deny them.
It shows little thought and makes little financial sense.
Clubs are notorious for wasting money.
They are engaged in their own arms race, one of the reasons a salary cap was necessary in the first place.
Give a club an extra million dollars and it won’t be spent on the resources to turn $1 million into $2 million.
It will be spent on extra physios and more coaches and other short term efforts to win a premiership.
The problem occurs when more than one club has the same idea.
This short-term mentality of clubs was never better revealed than the recent Covid crisis when most of the clubs were months away from becoming insolvent.
At the time, the NRL was passing on most of its profits, giving clubs the money they wanted, much of which was passed on to the players.
Not a cent was saved for a rainy day. They acted like they believed the NRL would be their parachute if the time ever came.
And when the time came they proved as much, unable to survive themselves.
And now they threaten to run off and find a new competition to be run by people they appoint, with who knows how much money coming from where?
You couldn’t make it up.
 

callmack1

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And our club gets unfairly dragged through the mud once again,

Bunnies hopping mad

Danny Weidler

Some NRL heavy hitters have been privately doubting the value of individuals owning clubs as Souths officials fume about Russell Crowe’s integrity being questioned.

Souths are angry Crowe has been dragged into the NRL’s funding fight with the clubs. Some at the NRL claim the reason the Rabbitohs are fighting so hard is because Crowe wants to take money out of the club. It is a narrative that has been raised in club land and latched on to by the game’s governing body. Souths say they know who is pushing the story.

Privately, some at the NRL have also questioned Manly’s ownership, concerned about how much money the Penn family is reinvesting into football.

Crowe has been a great addition to the NRL since he and Peter Holmes a Court bought 75 per cent of the Rabbitohs in March 2006. To question his reasons for investing in the game, and to claim it is because he wants to take money out of Souths, is a curious move.

Crowe is well aware of what is being said. We asked him for comment but received no reply.

Crowe was not South Sydney’s saviour – George Piggins was – but with Holmes a Court he turned them into a powerhouse: they won the 2014 premiership, reached the 2021 grand final and have played in five straight preliminary finals. But the behind-the-scenes attacks on Souths are getting nasty.

I have been told there was a meeting between News Corp, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo where it was pointed out that Souths boss Blake Solly was leading the charge against the NRL. This column has been told there was significant criticism of Solly, but this has been denied. V’landys confirmed a meeting with News Corp took place, saying it was not unusual to meet with a partner organisation and he would do so with Nine Entertainment (owners of this masthead) in the near future.

V’landys said he did not have a clear recollection of any individual being discussed at the meeting.

“We are disappointed Andrew [Abdo] was being attacked [in the funding debate] ... but we play the issue not the man,” V’landys said. “It was a 45-minute meeting and when we have issues coming up it’s not unusual for that to happen. Any suggestion we attacked individuals is not true. There were only three of us in the meeting and I don’t think you are being told the truth.”

News Corp has been supportive of the NRL in its battle with the clubs and players. Solly has heard talk he is pushing the club’s barrow for personal gain through a bonus related to club profits. What hasn’t been said is he took a significant pay cut during the COVID crisis.

It’s also hard to doubt the ongoing commitment of South Sydney’s owners. The Rabbitohs spend $2million a year on pathways and junior development, having taken over some of the responsibilities for funding from Souths Juniors. South Sydney members take great pride in the fact their club has posted a profit every year since 2011. It is also worth noting that the Bunnies are investing $4 million in a community and high-performance centre at Heffron Park. They are hardly the actions of a multimillionaire draining a club of cash. That’s not to mention James Packer’s $1 million donation to Souths Cares in 2021.

Solly is aware of the meeting and what was allegedly discussed, but refused to comment.
The NRL needs Crowe and his contacts if the mooted American NRL clash is going to get off the ground. Ironically, the Penns will also be called on through their connection with Manly fan Hugh Jackman. What Crowe and the Penn family say to the NRL when it comes knocking will be interesting
 

handyman2190

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We cop all the shit and have been for many years, unfair draws, not registering players, the stadium fiasco, you name it, its a joke. Paul kent hates us and buries the knife whenever he can, he is full of shit
 

callmack1

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From Zero Tackle,

New twist further complicates RLPA bargaining agreement negotiations

The ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the RLPA and the ARLC appear to have worsened after it was revealed that the NRL failed to declare $60 million in TV earnings.

This new twist to the dilemma further complicates what have been prolonged and frustrating negotiations thus far.

Roy Masters from The Age revealed the misdeclaration and stated that it was found by a forensic accountant hired by the RLPA.

This is an issue because the players took a $98 million pay-cut in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic - a cut that was based on the NRL claims of potential revenue losses of $450 million.

However, that figure was arrived at by excluding the newly discovered $60 million paid by Foxtel and Channel Nine for television rights, which could mean the players took a larger pay cut than necessary.

The NRL concedes there was a calculation error but denies that the RLPA audit found it.

Now tensions in the negotiations are further expanding, and they were already high, with RLPA chief Clint Newton recently saying the player's respect for the game is not being rewarded.

“Didn't players demonstrate the respect and passion for the game and its future by willingly accepting reductions of $98 million to save the game and protect the clubs they love, or have the NRL now erased that from history,” Newton told The Age last month.

“Players were not contractually obligated to take any cuts, but they did, and that can't be forgotten. They have received some partial payments but only because players secured a revenue share in the revised agreement, not out of some goodwill gesture.”

Last week, the RLPA rejected the NRL's offer of 1.32 billion dollars to the men's and women's games, labelling it “far from extraordinary”.

Coupled with this latest revelation, it seems these negotiations will continue with no end in sight.
 

callmack1

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From Zero Tackle,

"It's been a bit disappointing": Welch provides update on 'frustrating' pay dispute

Rugby League Players Association representative Christian Welch has claimed that bad faith leaks from league headquarters could see a resolution to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement disputes pushed back.

The Storm and Maroons star suggested on Sunday that fudged figures and an inability to break bread with the game's powerbrokers could see the simmering tensions between players and the payers stretch into the new year.

At present, the NRL has reportedly offered players a $1.3billion pay deal, which will cover the next five seasons of action. A spike of this size would result in the average player's salary increasing by 23 per cent across the life of the agreement.

With the game's governing body stressing that players' earning potential would be at a record high upon the agreement of a new collective bargaining agreement, Welch dismissed this notion, instead expressing that those at NRL HQ had botched their sums.

"All of the puppet journalists who have been fed all of those numbers, they aren't too good at maths," Welch told the ABC's Offsiders.

"They're talking about this record number of broadcast revenue for players, but they're only counting 30 players in the male teams. They're including the NRLW offer with the NRL offer, but they're not including any of the women's (figures).

"It's been a bit disappointing because there's have been comments like 'oh, we're not going to negotiate in the media', but then all of this leaked info - private, confidential info - (gets fed to media outlets)."

Welch, an MBA student with a self-professed "interest in the commercial side of sport", went on to say that having sat in these meetings with administrators, the players' respect had been taken for granted.

"I'm on the board for the RLPA, and I've been in some of those negotiations, and I think we've been really respectful, to be honest, throughout the year," the switched-on forward added.

The 28-year-old also contended that those holding the purse strings may not have been acting in good faith, stating that auditors had played a role in revealing the true value of the players' labour in a revenue-sharing split.

"There was $11 million on the table (from the game's heads), but we sent some auditors in, and it turns out there is $40 million in there buried," Welch continued.

"No one really talks about the broadcast deal that was negotiated early in the middle of the pandemic. I understand why Fox and Channel Nine don't want to talk about that, for obvious reasons, but I think we've really acted in good faith and it's really frustrating to see how it's playing out at the moment."

Though current negotiations affect the fortunes of all players, Welch was at pains to highlight just how precarious the situation was for those within NRLW circles.

Despite claiming the World Cup with their own victory at Old Trafford on Sunday morning, Australian time, members of Brad Donald's Jillaroos squad were risking far more than just pride during their 54-4 romp over the Kiwis.

"The people that are suffering now are the women. We're going to do our first CBA for the NRLW, so all of those women that won that World Cup tonight, they can't sign any contracts with NRL clubs at the moment," Welch empathised.

"If one of them did an ACL overnight, the likelihood of them securing a contract for next year, there's no chance of it.

"It's been pretty disappointing, to be honest, but hopefully we can build a healthier relationship with the NRL, and really build towards a really positive next five years, which, hopefully, be a CBA."

The Storm prop's refreshingly open comments come just days after teammate Harry Grant expressed that those earning south of his seven-figure salary would be "better off getting on the tools" rather than signing an agreement within the current climate.

Grant's open chiding of league administrators was echoed by Eels and Kiwis half Dylan Brown who was happy to stand in the rake's corner, despite competing on different sides for both club and country.

NRL players and clubs entered the new contractual year on November 1, meaning off-contract players could commence negotiations with rival clubs in the market.
 

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