Players to sacrifice $20m in wages after agreeing revised CBA

Some of the game’s top earners, including Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans – who was instrumental in fighting for the players when the game resumed from the COVID break – will be out of pocket to the tune of around $150,000 over the next two years.

The RLPA initially pushed for just a 2.5 per cent pay cut, after the players spent the last five months of last season on just 52 per cent of their wage. They took a 20 per cent cut across the 12 months.

In an interview with the Herald on Tuesday, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys pointed to the fact that top-30 squads remained intact in the NRL, while three players had to be cut from rosters under the revised AFL deal.

State of Origin payments will be cut in half from $30,000 to $15,000 per game, while Kangaroos players will earn $10,000 for each Test. Other significant reductions to player benefits and entitlements under the CBA will also take effect as part of the revisions.

NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo, who had hoped to nail down the CBA before Christmas, said: “2020 proved when we do things together, we get a better outcome for everyone. Today is another example of that.

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“I want to thank the players for the professionalism, discipline and sacrifices they have made – not only to ensure the 2020 season proceeded but so the game can remain sustainable long term. I also want to thank [RLPA boss] Clint Newton for the leadership he has shown in securing a deal that provides security for his players, the game and our joint stakeholders.

“The deal is a fair reflection of the value the players bring to our game and the sacrifices they are prepared to make to ensure we remain strong in the years ahead.”

Newton added: “This revised agreement is another example of the leadership and maturity shown during such a difficult period in our game’s history.

“When you consider the finite career of a rugby league player, which is not guaranteed to be longer than their next game, we have an important role in ensuring what we negotiate on their behalf is fair and reasonable.”

V’Landys told the Herald on Tuesday: “I’m all for the players. One thing I was adamant about, because I pride myself on fighting for the battler, is that the AFL cut three players from each roster. Their reduction is 9.5 per cent, if you want to compare apples to apples.

“We didn’t cut anyone. We still have the 30 contracted players and four development players. What the RLPA wanted to do was cut it by three. We weren’t party to that. I’ve protected those three players at each club. Otherwise, you would’ve had 16 clubs times three players (48) who would’ve lost their jobs.”