Threat of strike

Australian test and Queensland captain Cameron Smith has not ruled out strike action after being angered by the NRL’s response to the player union’s pay demands. Smith was less than impressed by leaked NRL emails that claimed the Rugby League Players Association’s collective bargaining agreement proposal was unaffordable and showed ‘‘an apparent disregard for the game’’. Asked if strike action was now possible, RLPA general president Smith said: ‘‘We’ve got some ideas in place on that.’’