Clubs handling cuts well will get better ‘buy-in’, says Peacock

JAMIE Peacock believes the Super League clubs that have handled pay cuts well will get a better ‘buyin’ from players.

With the restart of the season just three weeks away, some sides still haven’t been able to negotiate suitable reductions in wages with their squads to reduce financial worries while games will be played behind closed doors.

As such, there are fears it could have an impact on some clubs returning to training or even the resumption of the competition on August 2.

Peacock, though, believes those that have struggled to reach amicable agreements might see a knock-on effect on the pitch.

“Reports suggest some others have done little more than fire off a few emails, and doing that or having a 15-minute meeting just won’t cut it,” the former Leeds man wrote in his Daily Mirror column. “You need good communication in any walk of life, but especially when you’re dealing with difficult circumstances like this. The clubs that have a better relationship with their players and communicate more effectively will get a much better buy-in from their squads. Players are human, and if they’re going back to playing with some grudges over the way their club has handled things then it will have an impact.

“I’m not saying that all players won’t be committed - you have to be committed once you walk onto a rugby league field or you will get injured or embarrassed.

“But the clubs that have navigated these difficult times with their players better will get a greater buy-in on the field, and that is the kind of thing that takes you to the next level and allows you to win trophies.

“That will be difficult if players have had a poor relationship with their club in recent weeks.”