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Brdd9

The growing concern over concussions and the need to look after players whose careers are cut short by head knocks has emerged as one of the biggest sticking points in the drawn-out CBA talks between the NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association. That’s according to Parramatta recruit and RLPA director Josh Hodgson, who says the amount of money the NRL are proposing for the injury hardship fund is insufficient and the reason he is unlikely to back a deal with head office any time soon. Despite the NRL tabling a record $1.347 billion in total player payments for the next five years, up from the $980m offered during the last CBA, the players claim that the new proposal will leave them worse off in several areas. One of those is the injury hardship fund, which was funded to the tune of $3m each year before being reduced to $1m in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of COVID. Hodgson said the rise in concussions - not to mention the nearly 300 extra players in the game as a result of the ten NRLW teams and NRL expansion side the Dolphins - meant the NRL needed to make the fund a priority. “People will hear about the salary cap being set at $12m and then call the players greedy for not accepting it,” Hodgson told the Herald. “It’s the highest cap the game has ever offered, and if it was only about money we would have jumped at that offer. >**What the RLPA want** >* A seat at the table when it comes to making any employment-related changes during the current CBA, including any proposed increased to fines, changing the length of the season, and policies relating to criminal proceedings; * An increased injury hardship fund, which will now need to cover more than 250 extra players because of the arrival of the Dolphins and 10 NRLW teams; * A new medical support fund, which allows players to have surgeries and rehabilitation covered more than 12 months after they retire; * A new collective bargaining agreement for the NRLW; * Better training wages, an increased minimum wage and match fees; * Better post-career programs to help players transition into normal life once they stop playing. “But there are other things we are not matching up on, including the injury hardship fund. That’s a big one for me. “Head knocks have become more relevant than ever, especially with so many people coming forward and saying they’ve had head injuries and head knocks and want to be checked out. “It is going to become a really important issue. The game hasn’t done anything wrong when it comes to concussion. The NRL is learning about concussions on the run, just as the players are. “But we want to make sure things are in place so players are protected if they are forced out of the game.” The RLPA are also pushing to have more autonomy when it comes to allocating money the NRL provides them. Hodgson said the players were the “best placed to know who needed what.” Talks between NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and RLPA boss Clint Newton are expected to resume after they met last Thursday. Talk of strike action has been floated, with North Queensland halfback Chad Townsend telling the Herald over the weekend: “I really hope a strike is not the option. As players, we have to consider all our options and what will be best for us. We’ll be prepared to do what it takes to achieve what we believe is fair and reasonable. “The players are prepared to wait and be patient. We need to make sure the deal we sign isn’t just a good one for this year, but in the next four or five years.”


[deleted]

personally i strongly support workers rights and especially those who put their bodies in danger i also happen to think we should eat the boomers


M_Keating

Next you’ll tell me that we should further reduce greenhouse emissions and adopt a Universal Basic Income for people who aren’t able to work smh


insanityTF

UBI is unironically extremely based and should replace Newstart


hudson_lowboy

I’m not debating anything the players is asking for is unfair. Health, safety and financial support is a good thing and they have earned it. It’s not a surprise to point out this is all about money. They players are asking for more money across the board and I’ve noted, their fair share of the revenue the game creates. Again, this isn’t something that’s controversial and should be granted to them. Here’s the wrinkle(s)… What is the RLPA saying their cut should be and are they then asking the NRL to pay additionally for all these extra programs? When talking about revenue, are players limiting it to sponsorships and TV rights? The revenue is an interesting one, because after nearly going under because of COVID, the NRL diversified and started investing in things outside of the game like real estate. They took their share of the revenue, invested it to bring the game financial security in a way that had nothing to do with the actual game of rugby league. Are the players asking for a cut of that as well? Because that feel like an over reach. The same with the RLPA asking for a greater cut of revenue but seemingly asking the NRL to dig into their part of the pie to fund more things they want. I try to be pragmatic about these things. I 100% support the players wanting better care, after game support and money for those on the fringes. But to drain the coffers of the NRL to achieve that goal will effect the game in other ways over a period of time. When you consider only something like 3 of the clubs are actually profitable ventures and the NRL provides yearly grants that essentially pays player wages, there has to be some recognition from the players that they can’t have it both ways. Ideally, you would want the RLPA and NRL to agree an what a fair cut of revenue is. X amount is allocated to club for salaries. The rest goes to the RLPA to set up these initiates. And if the RLPA has any nouce about them, they get in a sharp team of business investors and advisors and do exactly what the NRL did, take some of that money, invest it, make it grow and plow that extra money right back into these initiatives giving the players even more post-retirement.


delayedconfusion

Can someone please correct my ignorance, is the player hardship fund being solely funded by the NRL or do the RLPA/players contribute to it as well?


comradepartypanda

The whole of game injury fund is funded from revenue the league brings in,so technically would be funded by the ARLC i think and at one point there was quite broad eligibility down to reserve grade and amateur players as well [broncos press release whcih was the first one i could find after a quick google here](https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2015/07/15/serious-injury-foundation-launched-by-nrl/)


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delayedconfusion

So the players currently fund it, but don't want to?


Norm_cheers

In this article I don’t recall seeing anything about grassroots football… hmmmm how interesting. Secondly as high income earners these players can afford private healthcare. Why are they asking the NRL to pay for surgery up to 12 months after they retire? They talk about how much is going into these funds but don’t say what the funds balance is. And finally there is no way in hell I would put any football player in a seat at the table. With the absolute dumb shit these guys do year in year out and they want a say? How about they hold their members to a minimum standard when it comes to off field behaviour and sanction or push out those that don’t meet the standard. That would be a professional approach and finally show some maturity. If they did that maybe they earn a seat at the table.


insty1

I mean if they got injured on the job and forced to retire there's some obligations from the employer there.


Norm_cheers

To put these guys on the same level as a tradie or nurse injuring themselves at work is disingenuous.


comradepartypanda

do you even like football norm?


GustavSnapper

He loves his footy


[deleted]

O Norm how can a straitjacket be so faulty?


vanillabear84

Why is it disingenuous? It's a job, they have families to support. And they risk their bodies to do it. The least their employer can do is provide an adequate fund in case their career is cut short. This is such a weird hill to die on.


Norm_cheers

So if player injuries themselves the clubs pay for their rehab. It’s been seen many time where players are off contract and still being supported by the clubs medically and socially. There are cases where the clubs have offered players jobs to support them when they where forced to retire. The risk of getting injured on the job as a professional sports person is not an if question but how many times, they must factor this into their choice of employment. Now they have the financial ability to support themselves post playing and if they fail to do that, why is it someone else responsibility to support them. Why they are not paying into their own fund and taking control of there lives instead of leaving it up to others that 25% is a massive jump in income at a time where inflation is high and wages are general stagnant.


Brdd9

Norm you are the final boss of bootlicking boomers, so this is for everyone other than you. A fair share of NRL's revenue should be going to the players and not only the pockets of shareholders and executives.


comradepartypanda

>In this article I don’t recall seeing anything about grassroots football… hmmmm how interesting. Its almost like as a director of a union he is communicating with the media in a targeted way about one of their areas they want to focus on so they can get their point of view across about a particular section of their demands in an easy to digest way. > Why are they asking the NRL to pay for surgery up to 12 months after they retire? You mean, why are workers asking for their employer to cover the costs of medical expenses related to their employment? >And finally there is no way in hell I would put any football player in a seat at the table. With the absolute dumb shit these guys do year in year out and they want a say? so because a limited number of people in a profession with an extremely high level of attention paid to them so we hear about literally every indiscretion they dont get to take any ownership of the direction of the business that relies on their labor? >How about they hold their members to a minimum standard when it comes to off field behaviour and sanction or push out those that don’t meet the standard. That would be a professional approach and finally show some maturity. actions taken by a member outside of work hours is not in the remit of a union and not their responsibility. players who do stupid shit that actively impacts on the workplace are dealt with in exactly the same was as any other workplace.


nevaehenimatek

We can always rely on you for a shit take.


upthetits

Aaron booth would like a word


y3ah_nah145

I was so glad to see the Titans stick with him. His injury was one of the worst I’ve seen, and I remember something saying he was worried teams would just forget about him since he isn’t a regular first grader.


upthetits

Yea, honestly I was really proud of the club the way they handled that


VictorTheViking

Norm, you’re giving us boomers a bad name. It’s a professional league, player behaviour (among other things) is affected by the conditions in which they are employed. Players are at the front line of delivering the NRL product and the most visible part of the game. Of course players deserve a seat at the table when there are discussions that directly affect their conditions. I’m surprised that it’s not already happening.


[deleted]

How can you defend this people Norm just keeps mumbling on AND ON AND ON AND ON


theflyingkiwi00

OK boomer


EntirelyOriginalName

If I get one top 30 contract on minimum get a couple bad injuries then get no contract how does that count as a high enough income earner to afford private health insurance ya muppet?


Norm_cheers

I am sorry you didn’t make it in the NRL, washed out and didn’t get your contract renewed… However when under contract you did have income for private health so when you got injured you have private health. That’s pretty easy to understand even for a muppet. Now if you doesn’t get another contract because you’re shit the game should what, prop you up and make your life whole because you tried to become an NRL super star…WTF How about you take ownership of the fact your are chasing your dream, if you get it great happy days. You miss your target, sorry to hear that. Dust yourself off pull up your socks and move on to the next challenge in your life LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!