Smith warns of awards boycott
‘‘But it’s our last game at home and we’ve got to make sure we get up for it and put together a performance that will send some players that are leaving, off on a good note.
‘‘Also, it’s for our fans and supporters, who’ve been through all of the tough stuff.
‘‘We want to make sure everyone puts in a performance that we can walk away happy with.’’
Although the 36-18 scoreline last weekend suggests the Warriors were soundly beaten by the Rabbitohs, for the first half they were the better side, but the Warriors’ problem right now is when things start to go against them, they’re unable to turn things around.
‘‘This game is very tough and if you make back to back errors you get hurt,’’ Jones said. ‘‘What’s happening to us at the moment is that we’re having good starts, particularly last week, then come up with fundamental errors, poor last play options and we’re turning over the ball in our yardage area.
‘‘It’s disappointing that we’re unable to turn teams away when we put ourselves under pressure and in this competition it’s something we’ve got to be better at.’’ CAMERON Smith is prepared to lead a boycott of the Dally M awards if the collective bargaining agreement stalemate isn’t resolved, despite him standing to lose most from the action.
Smith is president of the Rugby League Players’ Association and also one of the shortestpriced favourites in Dally M medal history. Sportsbet.com.au has listed Smith at the unbackable odds of $1.15, with Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans on the next line of betting at $9.
The Melbourne, Queensland and Australia captain has been at the forefront in representing the players in their pay war with the NRL, which is at an impasse despite an in-principle agreement having been reached on a A$9.4 million salary cap for next year.
The parties will resume negotiations on Tuesday and have set aside additional time the following week to discuss the union’s concerns, which include access to phone and bank records, injury compensation, career transition and wellbeing and educational support.
The parties are hopeful the issues can be resolved but the RLPA has an action plan if its demands aren’t met. That includes launching a legal challenge to the salary cap, pulling out of promotional finals activities, including the captain’s call, snubbing the World Cup and boycotting the Dally Ms.
The latter action was taken just once, in 2003, in a move that prevented Craig Gower from accepting the prestigious gong. While Smith, who won the 2006 Dally M medal, is confident a solution can be reached without industrial action, he is prepared to pull out of the awards night as an act of solidarity with the playing group.
‘‘I would,’’ Smith said. ‘‘I’ve been extremely fortunate to win one before – it was a long time ago. They don’t [come often]. It takes a lot of hard work to win one and you have to be lucky as well.
‘‘But I’ve made a commitment to this playing group and this RLPA cause.
‘‘It’s the right thing to do for our playing group and I’m willing to sacrifice that night.
‘‘I’m not saying at all that I’m going to win it, but it’s something I’m willing to stick with the group with. If that is to happen, then so be it.’’
Smith praised the work of NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg since he became involved in negotiations and thanked the governing body for making concessions that have put a landmark deal within reach.
However, he has no hesitation in putting the playing group’s cause above his Dally M medal ambitions.