NRL boss slams Maloney

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has fired back at Sharks five-eighth and Rugby League Players Association director James Maloney after his claim that everyone who works in rugby league outside of the players are ‘‘just accessories’’.

Maloney has been highly critical in recent months of Greenberg and branded the NRL as ‘‘smug’’ during tense collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which will again ramp up when the warring factions meet tomorrow.

In a lengthy interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, published on Saturday, Maloney again lined up head office, asking where former chief executive Dave Smith’s fabled A$200 million war chest had gone and accusing the integrity unit of ‘‘wanting to be the FBI’’.

But the comments that have riled Greenberg the most was this one: ‘‘There’s no one accountable for the spending. The players are your most important commodity. Without them, there is no game. Everyone who works around it are just accessories.’’

Greenberg has been typically diplomatic and careful with his public comments about the RLPA so far but after reading Maloney’s comments, he decided to hit back.

Greenberg said he could not stand by and allow the fans, sponsors, volunteers, juniors and others in the game to be insulted.

‘‘The game is much bigger than players,’’ Greenberg said. ‘‘And the players that I talk to regularly have always acknowledged that is the case.

‘‘The comments are disrespectful to the many hardworking staff and volunteers in our game. I have a responsibility to speak up on behalf of other hard-working people across the game to ensure they know that they are valued.

‘‘Our game is strong because of all those involved, from the grassroots and volunteers to our commercial and broadcast partners, all the hard-working staff across the game.

‘‘And we will always value and respect our clubs along with our government partners and the broader community.’’

Greenberg said every player was entitled to their opinion.

‘‘But when someone is in a position of leadership, sitting on a board and makes a public statement belittling staff, investors and fans of our game, he dilutes the value of our game collectively, including the value for fellow players,’’ he said. ‘‘We are working toward a deal that includes the players as genuine partners; we all need to demonstrate that in our words and actions, always.’’

Representatives of the NRL and RLPA will meet tomorrow with the hope of finalising the collective bargaining agreement before the finals start.

While the NRL is ready to get a deal done, the RLPA appears to be digging in as it seeks a complete share of revenue in the next agreement.

More than 180 players met in Sydney on Monday and later threatened a possible boycott of the Dally M awards if their demands were not met.

‘‘Despite the avalanche of criticism toward James on social media, I’m confident that we can complete this negotiation together in the coming weeks,’’ Greenberg said.

"The game is much bigger than players." Todd Greenberg, above