NRL exec ‘illegally recorded meeting’

PETER V’landys has vowed to investigate allegations that senior NRL executives attempted to illegally record a private meeting of players and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

The latest development in rugby league’s pay war threatens to come at the expense of two senior NRL employees.

Players Union chair Deidre Anderson alerted V’landys to the claims over the weekend.

The incident is alleged to have occurred last Friday, when up to 50 players and RLPA staff met Abdo at a leadership conference organised by the Rugby League Players Association at Homebush.

It’s understood Storm centre Justin Olam was the player who spotted the female NRL executive allegedly attempting to record the opening minutes of Abdo’s discussion with the players.

It is understood Abdo has told the ARLC that he had no knowledge of the executive’s alleged attempts to record, nor did he give any instruction to do so.

It has been suggested the alleged action was at the direction of a fellow NRL executive.

It’s believed the female NRL executive left the room once Olam and the players realised the attempted breach of confidence had been made.

The female executive denied she was recording the meeting, suggesting she was only preparing to tape Abdo’s messaging to the players.

The players are seething over the incident, with RLPA board members speaking with V’landys on Tuesday.

The players’ anger stems from the belief that they would be reprimanded and face sanction had it been them that had attempted to break rank during a private meeting.

V‘landys told News Corp he would get to the bottom of the matter.

“I have had a call from the RLPA chair and a player rep, and I gave them a commitment I would look into it.” V’landys said. “I will 100 per cent deliver on the commitment.”