Warriors players told they face 75 per cent pay cut
WIGAN Warriors prop George Burgess has revealed players have been informed they may be required to take a pay cut of up to 75 per cent to help Super League survive the crisis that has resulted from the Covid-19 global pandemic.
RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer cautioned last week that game-wide pay cuts would likely be necessary, but insisted it was a decision for clubs to make individually and would not be imposed by the governing body.
In Australia’s NRL, players have been told to brace for cuts of up to 87 per cent of their annual salary, while Australian Rules football clubs have made 80 per cent of staff redundant following the shutdown of their season.
Speaking to the Fox League Morning Show co-hosted by brother Sam, Burgess – who spent nine years in the NRL with South Sydney Rabbitohs before joining the Warriors in the off-season – revealed players have been kept abreast of the situation as much as possible.
“At the moment, we’re on a week-toweek basis, getting updates from the people at the top of Super League and the RFL,” explained the 27-year-old prop forward.
“The club have been good, they’ve been giving us updated with what’s happening with our pay.
“Obviously, across the board, I think players are going to have to take a pay cut, which is what needs to be done to keep the game alive over here. It could get as high as a 75 per cent cut of our wages.
“We’ve been told that’s what needs to come for the game to survive.
“It’s a big one, but it’s a game that we all love and it’s a game that we’re willing to sacrifice for to keep it going.”
George and twin brother Thomas moved to Australia in 2011, following Sam and elder brother Luke in signing for the Rabbitohs, and were joined by mother Julie.
Now George finds himself on the other side of the world from the bulk of his family, but says he does not think he will head back Down Under ahead of the resumption of the sport.
He said: “It could be an option, but the best thing for me, my wife Joanna and the kids is that we stay put, not go through airports and not take the kids on aeroplanes.
“It is really worrying times for everyone, but the community – and especially the rugby league community – we all pull together in those times and it is a nice feeling that we’re all pulling together and we’re supporting each other.
“It’s surreal. You’ve just got to take a week at a time, enjoy the small things and not get too panicky and carried away with what might happen.
“I’ve been trying to keep fit, just doing some running and bodyweight stuff in the house.
“It’s a jailhouse workout, get the music on and get the kids involved.”