NRL will contest two-ref decision
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has declared the NRL will appeal the Fair Work Commission if they agree with the referees’ union and rule on the return of two referees for the competition resumption.
V’landys has launched a scathing attack against the referees’ union after its chairman Silvio Del Vecchio released a statement yesterday, stating that the union expect the NRL to respect the decision if they win their battle in court to have two referees reinstated.
Del Vecchio also quashed fears of the officials striking by saying, “rugby league will be back next week” and the union will agree to the hearing result, but for now he insisted the union won’t back down on their two-referee stance.
A frustrated V’landys said the NRL wouldn’t accept the Fair Work Commission’s decision if they opted for two officials.
“There is a chance of an appeal and there is a full bench for the Fair Work Commission,” V’landys said.
“I think their inflammatory statements are not assisting them or their members.
“People have long memories and they will remember the day they [the referees’ union] tried to force their will on to the game.
“I won’t be commenting on legal advice to the referees’ union. We will determine all of that [appealing].”
The referees’ union is putting plenty of people offside in relation to their industrial dispute that is expected to be decided by the Fair Work Commission this weekend.
The union believes that the decision to reduce the number of on-field referees from two to one ahead of next week’s season start date is not upholding the current enterprise bargaining agreement.
The legal battle between the referees’ union and the NRL has prompted talk of strike action, but Del Vecchio declared it won’t happen.
However, he stressed the officials’ push for two referees with the Fair Work Commission remains on the agenda.
Del Vecchio believes the NRL will “save peanuts” going back to the one-referee model.
Despite this, he revealed the referees are prepared to take pay cuts.