Benji Marshall’s bid for a guest stint playing rugby union in Japan took another hit on Monday with the NRL board unanimously supporting plans to block such proposals.
The New Zealand international had flagged a possible offseason stint in Japan between contracts at the Wests Tigers, but the move has been vetoed by NRL chief executive David Gallop and now by the board.
While the chances of Marshall landing a lucrative deal in Japan continue to lengthen, the board’s ruling on Monday put another dent in the Kiwi’s fading options.
“In essence the board’s view is that rugby league is not a part-time occupation,” Gallop said.
“The game and its commercial partners invest millions of dollars each year in creating an environment that is unmatched in intensity and excitement.
“You can’t maintain that while allowing rival codes, rival sponsors and rival networks to market NRL players at the same time.
“The board feels that there can be no question, therefore, that the NRL has a clear stake in this issue.
“We also have to be careful not to allow managers and clubs to open artificial arrangements that circumvent the salary cap.”
Meanwhile the NRL board also endorsed the progress of the two-referee system being introduced this year.
Bret Gehrman
Guest
What a joke, surely Rugby League players have the right to do what they like when they are not at work just like everyone else. Only the elite players are on mega bucks, lots of first grade players are only earning less than 100K per annum and so what if they earn more. If players want to earn some more money on their own time they should be allowed to. Gallop needs to wake up to himself, the players earned their reputations and subsequent worth and if they can cash in on that then good luck to them, people have lives and families to feed and futures to plan for, everyone has the right to work and earn as much as they like. League players are underpaid, the NRL should give the players some of the royalty profits they are getting on merchandise etc that only has value because people love the players!!! Wake up, no-one loves the NRL but plenty of people love Benji and JT and Locky and Hayne etc etc......................................