Isn’t international or SOO selection supposed to be seen as an honour, rather than a money spinner?
A form of recognition, creating a legacy etc… I’d disband all payments for representative games. Players used to dream of growing up and wearing the green and gold, or maroon/sky blue, not the $30k they’d earn for doing so.
It’s all greed from the players and RLPA - the NRL and the independent commission are running the game as a business, to leave it as strong as possible for the future, the players are the ones with self-interest and a vested interest. They get paid handsomely for what they do - I’d be playing hard ball if I were PVL. If the players don’t like it, see you later, go try earn the same money elsewhere.
And if I were a club with a player currently on the books on a ridiculously over inflated salary, I’d be using the failure to meet media requirements as a way to sack em. f**k em!