Start of the season in jeopardy?

[Rooster_Luke]

I heard Cameron Smith interviewed on the Big Sports Breakfast this morning and he was talking about the CBA being rejected by the players and clubs again. Whilst he stated that it should be sorted before the start of the season, I for one think it should have been dealt with months ago!
The last thing that anyone wants is a lock-out fiasco that has recently plagued the NBA, NHL and NFL in America. It is us fans that spend our money on memberships, tickets and merchandise that helps to fund the game and the sooner that these sporting stars and administrators realise this the better.
Anyway it's probably not that big of a deal but I was a bit pis*ed of this morning as I just wish it could be finalised then everyone could concentrate on the start of the season. Your thoughts?

[Guest]

Thu, Jan 31, 2013 - 5:10 PM











Interim ARL Commission chief executive Shane Mattiske is confident the long-awaited Collective Bargaining Agreement with NRL players will be signed off within the next week.

An in-principal agreement was made with the Rugby League Player's Association (RLPA) in December, but players from four clubs have yet to sign off on the deal, which will see the salary cap rise from $4.4m to $5.8m for the 2013 season.

Mattiske ended his eventful seven-month stint in the hotseat on Friday having helped oversee the new billion dollar broadcast deal late last year in addition to a new multi-million dollar sponsorship with Holden on Thursday.

He will now return to his role as director of strategy and special projects, having stepped in to fill the void left by David Gallop's shock axing in June.

New CEO Dave Smith now takes over, and Mattiske said the salary cap issues will be resolved before the clubs' AGM on February 20.

"We are moving through it now, we have the in-principle agreement, and the RLPA are just working through it now. We're waiting for them to get back to us," Mattiske told AAP.

"I would expect to have some news in the coming days."

Clubs are privately frustrated by the length of time it has taken for the salary cap to be finalised, and are still waiting for the increase to their monthly grants.

But Mattiske said the commission cannot do any more to expedite the process.

"The important thing is that we have the in-principle agreement and it's also important that the players take their time and understand the deal," he said.

"It's a real positive that RLPA has taken their time. I think it's a fair deal for the players and a fair deal for the game."

Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah has been an integral part of the negotiations alongside RLPA CEO David Garnsey, and the NSW hooker said the delay was simply down to timing.

"With it being just before Christmas it was difficult for clubs to get their head around things as people were away and so on," Farah told AAP.

"Since Christmas Dave and the RLPA have been going around and detailing the terms of the deal.

"The last I heard there were three or four clubs yet to sign, but that should be done pretty soon and it's all fine."

The agreement will also see the minimum wage for players rise to $80,000 - up from $50,000.

Although it is below the initial target of a $6.5 million salary cap, Farah said it was still a very good deal.

"We worked hard to get where we are," he said.

"A lot of time and research went into the meetings and the deal we wanted and I think it is a very good one.

"As a players' association we are getting stronger and as a playing group across the board we are all united on what we think is important.

"It wasn't just the money, there were other things we put forward and we're very satisfied to achieve an outcome on those things."

[stsae]

I heard Cameron Smith interviewed on the Big Sports Breakfast this morning and he was talking about the CBA being rejected by the players and clubs again. Whilst he stated that it should be sorted before the start of the season, I for one think it should have been dealt with months ago!
The last thing that anyone wants is a lock-out fiasco that has recently plagued the NBA, NHL and NFL in America. It is us fans that spend our money on memberships, tickets and merchandise that helps to fund the game and the sooner that these sporting stars and administrators realise this the better.
Anyway it's probably not that big of a deal but I was a bit pis*ed of this morning as I just wish it could be finalised then everyone could concentrate on the start of the season. Your thoughts?

This has nothing to do with memberships, tickets or merchandise mate. Fans don't help fund the game.

It's about the cool Billion + from the TV deals.

That funds the game, that's what everyone wants a piece of.

I know fans like to feel fuzzy thinking they actually mean something but in the grand scheme of things we rank very low on the list of priorities.

[Guest]

Cameron Smith is the last NRL player that should be talking about contracts and agreements. How the greedy prick keeps a straight face when he does astounds me.

Chook.

[Guest]

Cameron Smith is the last NRL player that should be talking about contracts and agreements. How the greedy prick keeps a straight face when he does astounds me.

Chook.

Smith is hard done by and needs more money.His floating palace doesnt fuel itself up anymore...

[Rooster_Luke]

This has nothing to do with memberships, tickets or merchandise mate. Fans don't help fund the game.

It's about the cool Billion + from the TV deals.

That funds the game, that's what everyone wants a piece of.

I know fans like to feel fuzzy thinking they actually mean something but in the grand scheme of things we rank very low on the list of priorities.

Yeah you're right, I stuffed up there sorry.
I think what I was trying to say is that without us fans the game wouldn't be growing like it is and therefore no new deal

[Rooster_Luke]

Cameron Smith is the last NRL player that should be talking about contracts and agreements. How the greedy prick keeps a straight face when he does astounds me.

Chook.

Probably upset that the new CBA didn't involve any free boats!

[Salvatori Grubber]

I think it's entirely appropriate that the likes of Smith lend their voice/brand to the labour cause.

Do you actually think the fat cats would listen if the messages were coming from Zeb Taia and Jacob Miller?

This isn't an issue of greed (from the player's perspective), it's an issue of fair and equitable remuneration and conditions for the sods whose bodies are on the line, while the cash rolls-in for everybody else.

[Guest]

I think it's entirely appropriate that the likes of Smith lend their voice/brand to the labour cause.

Do you actually think the fat cats would listen if the messages were coming from Zeb Taia and Jacob Miller?

This isn't an issue of greed (from the player's perspective), it's an issue of fair and equitable remuneration and conditions for the sods whose bodies are on the line, while the cash rolls-in for everybody else.

Cameron Smith is the personification of greed and is not one bit interested in "fair and equitable remuneration and conditions" for anyone but himself.

Chook.

[Salvatori Grubber]

Read the second paragraph of my post. He is helping the cause.

[Guest]

February 5, 2013, 10:37 am

Players are set to reject the latest pay deal put to them by the Australian Rugby League Commission which could jeopardise the start of the NRL season.

Players' representative Cam Smith, speaking on Sky Sports Radio, said the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) would be 'knocked back'.

The process has been a drawn out one with the RLPA agreeing in December to take the ARLC's CBA to the clubs for their perusal.

It seems a large number of players are still unhappy with the latest offer with issues revolving around the increased salary cap, welfare and education issues and bonuses for the average player.

With the start of the NRL season a little over four weeks away the development will be worrying for the ARLC.

Although Smith intimated that a strike would be unlikely he could not guarantee that the season would begin on time.

"Unfortunately it looks like the CBA is going to get knocked back," Smith said.

"It went to the vote of clubs and the majority have said no. I don't think they're that far off an agreement. We just need to fix up some small things.

"It's just some small clauses in the proposal that we need to fix up and clarify with the NRL before we can tick it off and say yes.
"I think there are some players in the competition that are happy with the proposal that the NRL have tossed up. What we decided on was that everyone needs to be on the same page and everyone needs to be happy going forward and at the moment we're not, but hopefully in the near future that will be all OK and we can get on with playing the season."

[Guest]

Read the second paragraph of my post. He is helping the cause.

I'm sure he is helping the cause, the Cameron Smith cause. What he and his ilk are doing by rejecting the lastest offer is taking more money from grassroots football so they can fund their extravagant lifestyles. Meanwhile mums and dads volunteer to ref, manage, raise money and grounds-keep for junior football across the country in order to keep it going.

Cameron Smith does not give one flying fark about that and neither do his mercenary mates.

Chook.

[kurtsherlock6]

This has nothing to do with memberships, tickets or merchandise mate. Fans don't help fund the game.

It's about the cool Billion + from the TV deals.

That funds the game, that's what everyone wants a piece of.

I know fans like to feel fuzzy thinking they actually mean something but in the grand scheme of things we rank very low on the list of priorities.

Without fans, there wouldnt be any billion dollar television deals, actually there wouldnt even be a game without the fans.

More fans = more $$$.

[roosterproud]

funny how there are 4 teams not signed up. i bet melb, drongos, newc and merge

[Guest]

Looks like Smith has gone off half cocked...

12:15pm Brad Walter: League. Fears that negotiations between the NRL and players over a collective bargaining agreement have broken down are unfounded and a deal remains imminent.

Australian captain Cameron Smith sparked concerns about the talks this morning when he told Sky Sports Radio that clubs had voted against the proposal. However, Fairfax Media has been told that Smith's comments were based on a misunderstanding arising from some conversations that he had at around Christmas time.

RLPA boas David Garnsey has now updated him on the current position. Smith is due to hold a press conference in Briabane


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/sportsda...#ixzz2Jz6GSLSD