'Gorging on the game’s own meat': NRL and RLPA not reading the room as fans in the real world struggle to make ends meet

We are all doing it tough and some are battling more than others – there’s no question about that. It was another freezing July night we slept through, many of us were lucky enough to keep warm in our beds.

In this current climate, most of us know someone or know a story of a young family, a long-lost mate, a friend of a friend sleeping in their car, a tent or crammed into a relative’s home because they couldn’t afford to pay the bills anymore.

This is the reality we woke up to on Thursday morning.

Which makes it even more difficult for footy fans out there to understand how the NRL and RLPA are still squabbling over how many more millions of dollars should be shoved into their bottomless vaults.

If either side thought there was a PR battle to win here they are sorely mistaken and grossly out of touch.

Kalyn Ponga is one of several NRL stars earning seven figures annually. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The RLPA released a statement on Wednesday.

“After meeting with over 50 player leaders from all clubs last night (Tuesday), players have unanimously decided that they must take action as a result of the NRL’s unreasonable CBA ultimatum,” it began.

“In response to our fair and reasonable settlement proposal, where players made key concessions to benefit the game, the NRL made over 100 unreasonable and unacceptable changes to the proposal. The NRL’s response to our settlement proposal was presented to us by the ARL Commission as a take-it-or-leave-it offer and refusal to continue negotiations.

“The ARL Commission and NRL have effectively halted negotiations.”

The NRL hit back on Wednesday night with CEO Andrew Abdo speaking on NRL 360 after the RLPA confirmed players would not do any media through this weekend’s round of the NRL.

“Look it’s disappointing because ultimately the action that has been proposed means that our broadcast partners and our fans and our partners and our sponsors are the ones that are going to suffer,” Abdo said.

“I watched it unfold this afternoon as you did and I received a short email just prior to the RLPA announcement this afternoon.”

Fans have had a gutful of both sides.

The civil war may have upset supporters ten years ago but we’ve been beaten up so many times that we simply don’t care enough about this.

Rich get richer, they say.

Gorging on the game’s own meat – eyes glazed under the spell of a magical potion of greed, power and blood money they’ve eviscerated from the pockets of the very supporters that still hold faint hope that maybe the NRL does care about us?

Perhaps my footy club appreciates me or the millionaires posing as rugby league players agonise over this weekend’s results more than what brand they’ll endorse next on Instagram.

It must be extremely difficult for the NRL and the RLPA to ‘read the room’ up in the penthouse when the battling punter, living in the real world, down in the dirt is barely keeping their head above water.

Spiderman vs Spiderman GIF, anybody?

So now we have a “blackout” from the players.

But haven’t we already been living in a blackout for years, anyway?

Channel Nine’s coverage has been sliding for as long we can remember. Their only weekday panel show 100% Footy is on so late that nobody watches it. Oh and let’s not get started on their flagship ‘Today’ breakfast show that spends as much time spruiking AFL – which just so happens to be on Channel 7 and the NRL’s main competitor in a crowded Aussie sporting market.

Post-match press conferences are a joke.

NRL 360 present newspaper journalists and their opinions like Binge would with Vanderpump Rules.

Most networks can’t even be bothered sending their commentators to the games they are calling.

Ticket prices are too high and if you do scrape together $30 or $40 to go stand on a hill – you’ll then be charged $10 for a beer.

Forget about it if you have a family.

$160 for a jersey.

Andrew Abdo. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Players continually trying to break contracts, clubs wasting millions of dollars sacking coaches and players like they have money to burn.

Junkets to Las Vegas and Royal Ascot.

Worst of all, grassroots clubs in the heart of rugby league communities are getting less and less of the pie.

All of this and we’re meant to pick a side between the NRL and the RLPA?

To both sides…

Sort this out.

You’re the current protectors of the game – not the saviours.