We’ve had a struggle with some clubs, says Carvell

Players union boss Garreth Carvell says the pay situation in super league is improving but has called for a ban on signings while negotiations continue over cuts.

It emerged this week the majority of clubs were engaged in disputes with their players over pay once they are taken off furlough. Warrington prop Mike Cooper went as far as saying “there is no competition” with only three clubs said to have reached an agreement on wage structures at the time.

Carvell - head rep for the GMB Union that represents 85 per cent of super league players says that has since increased to six and he is hopeful the situation will be resolved by the end of the week.

But he wants a temporary recruitment ban with players angered by high-profile signings during negotiations.

“Clubs signing players at the same time as asking others to take cuts doesn’t sit well with me or any of the players, and I can understand why they’re aggrieved about it,” he told the Mirror. “We’ve spoken to the rfl about putting a stop to recruitment while this is going on because it’s not fair.

“We’re not talking about likefor-like swaps with James Graham replacing luke Thompson at st Helens, or if a club suffers an injury crisis and needs to bring somebody in.

“But when they’re just adding to their squads while cuts are going on I don’t think anybody would think that’s fair or there’s any justification in doing it. The players feel very strongly about that.”

He added: “some clubs have been excellent with their communication throughout, and players there have been more accepting of cuts when they’ve seen exact figures in front of them. There have been other clubs where players have had literally two emails telling them what the cuts are and it’s those we’re having a bit of a battle with. We want to finalise it this week so we can start concentrating on rugby.”