Rugby league: NRL player revolts over training restart – report

The NRL stars reportedly plan to boycott a return to training on Monday in solidarity with the New Zealand-based Warriors.

The Sydney Morning Herald and Channel 9 report that the players had a phone connection on Wednesday night with the Rugby League Players Association, where they agreed not to go to training on May 4, throwing a wrench at the jobs of the The league’s plan to restart their season. May 28 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The players are considering the decision because a new salary agreement between them and the NRL has not been finalized, despite being promised that they would be delivered earlier this week.

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Nine reports that the NRL has now told players that they won’t be given a revised payout structure until next week. This is due to the commercial complexities involved in negotiations with television partners Nine and Foxtel after a broadcast deal was reached for a 20-round season.

Uncertainty surrounding payout made Warriors players, led by Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, question their next move. The NRL has requested a special government exemption, not yet officially granted, for the Kiwi side to fly to Australia, where they would then spend two weeks in quarantine.

Warriors players and staff have prepared to fly on Sunday, but Sheck and company reportedly spoke last night about not wanting to travel without the guarantee of a payment agreement that allows the season to continue.

The older players from the roosters and Melbourne, including former Queensland captain Cameron Smith, backed the Warriors’ stance.

A return to training was announced on May 4 as part of the timeline with the goal of restarting on May 28 to give clubs enough time to prepare and focus on strict isolation measures.

Monday was debated as a day for NRL players and staff to undergo mandatory biosecurity briefings, so any lengthy delay at that time could delay the season restart date.