Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo says there has been a breakdown in trust between the players and the NRL in recent weeks capped off by Tuesday’s bombshell news that the league was accused of secretly recording meetings.
The Rugby League Players’ Association, of which Yeo is the delegate for the Panthers, is locked in discussions with the NRL over the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement after a stalemate that has dragged on for more than a year.
Relations between the two parties hit a new low this week when an investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald reported that a meeting, held last Friday between NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and representatives of the playing group, was secretay recorded by an official acting upon orders from an NRL executive.
The official was discovered, prompting RLPA CEO Clint Newton to confront Abdo and for RLPA chief Deirdre Anderson to send a letter to ARL chair Peter V’landys that accused the official of covertly recording the session.
“We’ve heard about that and it’s another breakdown in trust, really,” said Yeo, who is the first player to publicly comment on the issue.
“It’s come out now and the tension is already there. The RLPA, over the last few years, have had to audit to get the money that the players are entitled to as well and they found an extra $20m. So it’s not the first time this has happened.
“There’s been little breakdowns in trust that’s creating tension between the groups. I think the RLPA has sent something to Peter (V’landys), they’ll get it sorted.”
Players could be set to escalate industrial action against the NRL, with a new CBA submitted to the league. Should it fail to be accepted, Yeo refused to rule out the potential of strike action.
“The RLPA board have come back and presented a CBA to the NRL and give them a deadline until the end of Thursday, so we’re waiting to see what happens from that and we go from there.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
“It’s taking a while with a bit of tit for tat both ways. The RLPA are doing their best for the players and we’re all behind that. We’ve given them a chance until Thursday and then if we have to take more action as a group we’ll do that.
“It’s taking too long and we’ll see how it goes next Thursday, and if we have to take more action then we will. . If things keep breaking down as they are and we don’t get resolutions, that (strikes) are the absolute extreme. The players don’t want to get to it, we all want to play football. I’m sure it’ll be sorted out before.”
Yeo was insistent that the dispute was not about player’s pay, but instead about conditions.
“It feels like some parts of the media are pushing the NRL’s case and saying we’re greedy, but it’s simply not the case,” he said.
“We’re trying to look after each other not just through football but post-football as well. There’s a lot that goes into it and I feel like the people coming out and saying stuff don’t have their heads wrapped around it fully.
“Clint is trying to do a job to present what the players are after: it’s not just about money, it’s about looking after each other away from football once it’s all done. If you’re lucky it’s a ten year career in rugby league and after that it’s all done.
“You’d like to think that it doesn’t stop there and you get looked after a little bit longer as well with injuries and stuff like that. It gets perceived in a lot of different way, but we’re not being greedy, we’re trying to look after one another.”
Ally
Guest
No, Yeo refers to presenting "a CBA" when it's actually a list of what the players want to have. The NRL then respond what they want to give, until somewhere in the middle of these wishes is the actual CBA. Why it's become so hard for both sides to sort out is any ones' guess. I'm not surprised that the players might have jumped upon CBA as a buzzword. Clint Newton doesn't ever come across clearly and tries to sound so polished he talks in riddles. He's like one of those politicians that is so rehearsed they can't act normally anymore. The irony is that Union heads are typically blunt in what they want, while corporate bosses are vague, indirect and political in their response. With Newton, V'Landys and Abdo it's been the other way round. Not one of them comes out of this looking good.
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
Your & Grands assumption evidently, is that everyone will have $600,000 plus in super etc. That’s simply a fallacy. Wrong. I was simply saying Womblat's argument that most people retire with $300k to be a lie. But most of the work force will comfortably have more than $600k at retirement. If you are on 50k a year, even just the base super payments over 40 years will be 200k before the market takes hold of it. 200k over 40 years (based on past performance) will clock 550k minimum.
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
Westie, your maths is almost as bad as Womblat's capacity to churn a good lie. I know what shop assistants get (it's closer to $30 an hour now if you are over 18). If you did that 40 hours a week for 40 years (62k a year), with only basic CPI adjusted pay rises, you are certainly going to retire with more than 300k in the super pot. It is basic maths. Superannuation has been in place for nearly 4 decades. There are very few workers left not on super.
mushi
Roar Guru
No one is forced to pick them either, the forced argument is a vapid straw man. They were chosen by the people they're negotiating with. The nrl isn't forced to have them play
mushi
Roar Guru
So the "average" person is a minimum wage 48 year old?
Grand Panjandrum
Guest
GH If $89k is the median, then it is almost mathematically impossible that 25% can be on $250k+ That's not a bell curve...that's a freaking rollercoaster of a chart if so. You must be mistaken. Where did you get that stat from?
mushi
Roar Guru
Not true Brett Allen “Now I don’t feel I need to state how concerning these actions were. The deliberate and covert nature of the recording is breathtaking. It is immoral, unethical and illegal. There was no consent granted to record. In fact, no attempt to seek consent occurred.”
Rellum
Roar Guru
25% of Australians earn more than $250k per year. They are upper income earners. 25% seems high, very high
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
I said what I said. And what I said was right.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’ve also noticed you never front up with an opinion or comment of your own… just snipe away at everyone else’s
The Barry
Roar Guru
It was the mildest of mild gags… you just have to have a cry any time anyone mentions your team :crying:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
A karaoke favourite, peter. But the law requires that it MUST be sung with the eyes closed. As soon as you open your eyes, it's mic down. :thumbdown:
Chris
Guest
Yes, was meant to be ‘someone’ else’s…
Chris
Guest
A joke at some else’s expense. Then a name caller if someone dares to reply to your I’ll advised comment. Better all the time.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Sorry Red Rob, Radiohead never recorded a better track than Fake Plastic Trees
The Barry
Roar Guru
Geez you’re a grade A sook… Can’t even pick a joke let alone take one
Chris
Guest
Sure, I bet you’re just like an oil painting.
Westie
Guest
It’s not the only comparison I made. You’re taking no notice of the other things that I said. As they don’t go with your narrative or negative reply, comment . Your & Grands assumption evidently, is that everyone will have $600,000 plus in super etc. That’s simply a fallacy. In fact Grand called it a ‘lie’ to say that everyone won’t have that much plus. That claim is wrong , as are you if you support such an idea.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Is this why Yeo has a long face…?
andrew
Roar Rookie
Nothing on Fox sports either, except one of their employees, Tallis, putting in his 10 cents worth. Caught a bit of Talkin sport yesterday, I'd say Graeme Hughes knows more about what's going on than anyone at the NRL.