Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton has responded to accusations of bullying and threatening behaviour from NRL boss Andrew Abdo.
The dispute between the two parties over a new CBA reached fever-pitch this week when RLPA members voted to boycott media commitments on NRL, NRLW and State of Origin game days, regardless of whether or not their team was playing.
The boycott covers pre and post-game interviews with print, radio and television media, including the Nine Network.
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At a media conference on Wednesday, Abdo called the boycott “disappointing”, saying it is only hurting fans of the game. He said the deal the NRL had offered players was “landmark”.
He also didn’t rule out monetary fines for players taking part in the boycotts.
Then later on Fox Sports’ NRL360, Abdo said the NRL “won’t be bullied or we won’t be threatened” by the RLPA.
But on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Newton claimed the NRL was the only party doing the bullying, and that the association would deal with the fines dished out to the players only if they came to fruition.
“That (fines to players) is up to the NRL – we can only control what we can control,” he said.
“If there are to be threats about fining players, sacking players, which has begun, it is just another attempt to bully and intimidate the players.
“The reality is (the RLPA wants to) get to the table, work through it, get to a resolution, and then we can all move on.”
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The blackout means due to State of Origin, players will only speak to media on Monday and Tuesday this week.
On Thursday, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart accused the RLPA of “using” players.
“I feel sorry for the players, because I believe if you spoke to 95 per cent of the players, they wouldn’t even know why they’re not allowed to talk to the media,” he said.
“I think (the players) are being used, and it’s wrong.
Blue great Paul Gallen asked Newton if the hard stance had the support of the entire playing base.
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“When the decision was made on Tuesday night, we had over 50 players on the call (and) every club was represented,” he said.
“We can’t make a decision and we can’t go forward without the consent of the players. We don’t run a dictator organisation … that’s not how we run.
“It is a role of the leaders to go forward when different movements have taken place. The leaders have made the decisions and the players get in behind.
“That is no different to every other organisation. Yep, it’s a challenging time, but the players are united. There will be attempts, as they already have, to divide the players up.”
Newton denied claims that the delays and boycotts had taken place in order to gain players a pay rise.
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“That couldn’t be further from the truth. The players haven’t asked for more money since December last year. That’s off the table. That is not an issue,” he said.
“It’s clear that’s an agenda being driven to divide the players up from the fans.
“This is a tried and tested model. Every time there is a dispute, people talk about greedy players. It isn’t about more money. We can say it until we’re blue in the face.”
Newton claimed the NRL made more than 100 changes to their original settlement proposal.
“That was an attempt to blow things up … if you are a party who wants to come to the table to negotiate, you don’t make 100 changes,” he said.
Round 19 of the NRL wraps up on Sunday afternoon when the Titans take on the Dolphins.
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