Players union accuses NRL official of an act of industrial espionage during crucial negotiations

The ongoing stalemate between the NRL and players over the new collective bargaining agreement has hit more rocky waters with the league accused of covertly recording negotiations without consent.

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) and the NRL have been trying to thrash out the CBA since last year with a range of player conditions still unmet by the game’s governing body.

The RLPA demands include a new medical support fund to cover surgery costs for NRL and NRLW players after they retire, an independent CBA for the NRLW, improved conditions, contracts and wages for lower income earners, a new past players program, an injury hardship fund an increased share of the game’s revenue.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo came face-to-face with around 60 players at the annual Leaders in League conference last Friday.

Now the RLPA has accused the NRL of using an uninvited employee to covertly record conversations between Abdo and the players. 

The Sydney Morning Herald has published a letter from Rugby League Players Association chief Deidre Anderson to Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys and his board slamming them for their actions. 

‘To ensure an open and honest environment for Andrew and the players, no filming or recording of this session was permitted and no media representatives were present,’ part of the letter read. 

‘What then followed is nothing short of illegal which, on its face, seriously calls into question the integrity of the NRL, its executive and its culture.’  

Harry Grant first raised the issue of the CBA at the Rugby League World Cup last year and said the NRL was ‘lowballing’ players on pay and conditions

Kurt Capewell said strike action was a possibility: ‘We don’t want it to come to (a player strike) but if the NRL are going to sit on their heels and not budge, who knows where it’s going to go’

Cowboys co-captain Chad Townsend listed the players demands on social media and said the salary cap announcement was a ploy by the NRL to hinder action on the CBA

The RLPA said a player had asked the question after spotting the employee recording conversations.

Several senior NRL players including Melbourne Storm star Harry Grant, Brisbane Broncos utility Kurt Capewell and North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Chad Townsend have previously said players would be willing to strike if the CBA demands were not met. 

According to the RLPA the employee was asked if they were recording which they denied twice, before they were asked to show their mobile phone which clearly showed recording software was being used.

An RLPA official pressed the employee on the issue and they stated they ‘had been acting under the instruction of another NRL executive’.  

RPLA chief executive Clint Newton addressed the NRL employee that was allegedly recording conversations

‘After the session, [RPLA CEO] Clint [Newton] addressed the matter separately with (the official) and Andrew, and advised that the playing group and the RLPA are aware of the incident due to the public nature of what unfolded, and that the RLPA will need to appropriately consider our options with next steps given the seriousness of the matter,’ the letter continued.

‘Now I don’t feel I need to state how concerning these actions were. The deliberate and covert nature of the recording is breathtaking. It is immoral, unethical and illegal. 

There was no consent granted to record. In fact, no attempt to seek consent occurred.’

V’landys would not comment on the accusations.

‘We’ve received a private and confidential letter, so I don’t wish to comment on the letter,’ V’landys said.

‘But I have given commitments to the chairman of the RLPA and one of the player representatives, and I will follow through on that commitment. I will 100 per cent delivering on my commitment to them.’