NRL players won’t speak to media this round in an escalation of their pay dispute

Fed up with the NRL’s stalling tactics in the ongoing pay war players will launch a game day media blackout from this weekend in a bid to bring league officials back to the negotiating table.

The players union announced the dramatic measures on Wednesday, confirming they would come into effect from Thursday and include Game III of the State of Origin series next week.

In a statement the Rugby League Players Association said the lack of effort from the NRL in pay discussions, which have been going on for more than a year, had forced the move.

“We have been forced into this position because of the NRL’s take-it-or-leave-it offer for your CBA,” the RLPA said.

“The NRL and ARL Commission have effectively halted negotiations.

“We are the party that is trying to keep things moving and reach an agreeable position. They have accepted all concessions the players made to settle negotiations, but have made over 100 changes which further erode player positions.”

“This unreasonable ultimatum from the game’s administrators has forced players to take action that will see all players boycott media obligations on any day there is an NRL, NRLW or State of Origin match.”

Under the plan, players will not speak to broadcasters, on TV or radio, or print journalists from the first match of the week until the conclusion of the round.

The RLPA has called for an immediate meeting with broadcasters to discuss the latest move which comes after several attempts to reignite discussions with the NRL.

RLPA boss Clint Newton said players “ deserve to have their rights and welfare protected”.

“Over the 20 past months, we have seen a disturbing pattern of behaviour from the NRL and ARL Commission. What we have seen is a failure to respect the role of the players’ representative body, erosion of fundamental player rights and attempts to buy off players without understanding this CBA is about so much more than money,” he said.

“They have failed to honour their commitments in providing a CBA everyone can be proud of – one that respects the players’ irreplaceable role. They did not properly disclose financial information and payments owed to the players, and disregarded their collective concerns. The players have shown tremendous patience and goodwill throughout this process, but their trust and resolve have been tested time and time again.”

Last month the RLPA Board, after a meeting between the RLPA, clubs and the NRL, resolved not to make any settlement which compromised their own position.

NRL MEDIA BLACKOUT

• Pre-match interviews (TV, radio, print, NRL.com) Half-time interviews (TV);

• Post-match interviews (TV, radio, print, NRL.com) Post-match press conference

• Media opportunities in the dressing rooms (TV, radio, print, NRL.com); and

• Media opportunities in mixing zones (TV, radio, print, NRL.com)