Assurances sought before play begins

NRL players won’t agree to resuming the competition until there is clarity on how much money they will receive – and how much head office will spend – to get it running again.

The NRL has earmarked May 28 as the day the premiership will recommence, although they need the players’ union to first agree to the revenues, operating costs and welfare provisions in order for that to happen.

The Rugby League Players Association and head office had agreed to a new pay deal based on the worst-case scenario of no matches being played in 2020, with the parties still yet to agree to the terms of a resumption.

That includes receiving a minimum of 29.5 per cent of any additional revenue that could flow into the game as a result in play resuming.

The players are keen to return to the field but first want some assurances before doing so. That includes an understanding of the NRL’s operational costs to restart, an important consideration given the stinging criticism head office has received over how much money is being spent to run the game.

The Sydney Morning Herald last month revealed Rugby League Central spends almost $500,000 a day to run the competition, while broadcast partner Channel Nine – the publishers of this masthead – claims countless millions were ‘‘squandered by a bloated head office’’ in an extraordinary broadside on Thursday.

RLPA CEO Clint Newton said the game can’t restart until his members are given assurances about the manner in which it will do so.

‘‘I’d like to think it won’t be like a CBA negotiation given the time criticalities associated with this,’’ Newton said.

‘‘We need to be very clear on what’s been brought in and that we’re agreeing on the operational costs. We then need to reach agreement over the distribution to the stakeholder groups over those revenues.

‘‘To be clear, we understand why the NRL have proposed a start date. But there are things critical in all of this and that’s why the player consultation process and engagement is