The NRL’s controversial plan to bypass the match review committee to cite players has been blocked until a formal dispute filed by the players’ union has been resolved.
Head office has come under fire for granting itself “unfettered power” to charge players for on-field offences, and now they will be unable to implement the initiative, at least in the short term, amid claims due process wasn’t followed.
The Rugby League Players’ Association on Thursday filed a formal dispute over the issue, claiming the NRL didn’t follow the agreed consultation process as mandated by the collective bargaining agreement. Under the CBA’s “status quo provision”, the change can’t come into effect until the dispute is resolved.
The stoush comes amid revelations that, under the existing NRL Judiciary Code of Procedure, there is already a mechanism that allows the ARLC board, the NRL chief executive or the CEO of a club to raise any concerns over on-field incidents to the match review committee.
On Wednesday, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo defended the initiative, describing it as an “insurance policy” that may never be used. That wasn’t enough to placate the RLPA, who sent out a message to a member base exceeding 500 players criticising the NRL’s “failed consultation process”.
“According to the CBA, the NRL must consult the RLPA on the rule changes impacting players, following an agreed process to protect players and give them a voice,” the RLPA wrote in its message.
“However, the NRL did not follow this process. Instead of providing the RLPA with a 14-day consultation period, they announced the change five days after proposing it in writing to us.
“By ignoring this process, the NRL prevented the RLPA from consulting your player leaders and providing proper player feedback.
“This afternoon, we filed a formal dispute with the ARL Commission and the NRL, citing a breach of the CBA through non-compliance with the consultation process.
