League’s elite take pay fight to field

RUGBY league’s pay war is headed on to the field, with players to stage a protest against the NRL during the upcoming round of matches.

Players will wear dark green taping in a strong show of support for the Rugby League Players Association’s ongoing discussions with the NRL as some of the game’s elite grow increasingly frustrated with the slow process.

It is understood players will wear the tape on their wrists or boots, or as a headband or armband, with the demonstration to start in tonight’s Pentheir rith and Bulldogs match. Boxes of the tape have already been sent to clubs via the four RLPA delegates at each club after News Corp revealed players’ plans to stage an on-field protest earlier this month.

Last round had originally been slated but the players did not want to interfere with the women in league celebration.

The RLPA expects the vast majority of players to don the dark green tape across the eight matches this round.

RLPA boss Ian Prendergast said it was “no secret players had become increasingly frustrated” by negotiations.

“They want to stand up, use voice and demonstrate their solidarity across the weekend to get this deal over the line so we can deliver certainty in the industry,” he said.

“You only have to look at Beanies 4 Brain Cancer earlier this year and the acknowledgment of the significant women in their lives in support of women in league last week to understand the positive impact players can have on a game if they do feel that connection with it and believe they are valued.”

This is the second strong, public sign of support by the players after they donned RLPA hats during media opportunities in the lead-up to Origin III.

There will also be a captain’s call of all 16 club leaders and the RLPA this week to discuss the ongoing negotiations.

Talks between the NRL and the RLPA intensified last week when NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg sat in on negotiations for the first time.

The biggest stumbling block continues to be the players’ demand for a 29 per cent revenue share, while finding common ground on what exactly is included in the salary cap also presents ongoing uncertainty.

“Since Todd has been involved as of last week there has been some positive signs and some productive dialogue around the key issues,” Prendergast said.

Greenberg said it was good to see the players united.

“We don’t have a problem with them demonstrating their solidarity,” he said.

THEY WANT TO STAND UP, USE THEIR VOICE AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR SOLIDARITY ACROSS THE WEEKEND TO GET THIS DEAL OVER THE LINE ...