Capewell renews push for NRL pay talks

Amid speculation of a game boycott, players' association member Kurt Capewell has urged the NRL to engage in genuine negotiations over the stalled pay deal.

KURT CAPEWELL.
KURT CAPEWELL. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Kurt Capewell has not ruled out a player strike if the NRL does not negotiate the details of the code's dragged-out pay-deal dispute.

Some clubs have already boycotted media and promotional duties, with Newcastle the latest to take action after cancelling their full-squad interview session and team photo set for Wednesday.

Brisbane and Queensland backrower Capewell confirmed on Tuesday the Broncos would follow suit unless the governing body "comes to the table, ready to negotiate" and finalise a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Asked if players were prepared to boycott games if there was still no action, the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) advisory group member said "hopefully it doesn't come to that".

The initial CBA deadline was October last year and Capewell says there has never been a sincere commitment to listen to the players' demands.

"(The NRL) have belief if they wait it out long enough we're just going to have to sign (but) we're not going to stand here and cop it," Capewell said on Tuesday.

"We're ready to draw a line in the sand and we'll make a stand.

"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?

"But I'm sure they'll be able to see we're not happy and how connected we are."

The NRL have proposed a salary cap of $12.1 million this season, an increase on the $9.6m allowed last season but an amount the RLPA argue has been inflated by the addition of items not included in the 2022 figure.

NRLW sides have also been given a beefed-up salary cap of $884,000, although no season start date or length has yet been confirmed.

The figures revealed by the NRL in December only apply to the 2023 season, with the RLPA claiming they were informed of the proposed increase only hours before the announcement.

Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys has suggested RLPA chief executive Clint Newton was "scaremongering" when he flagged his initial concerns.

But the RLPA have warned players - particularly NRLW and NRL train-and-trial hopefuls - are potentially endangering themselves by agreeing to new deals while no CBA is in place.

"It's the NRL's strategy to paint a picture of us (as greedy), wave a shiny toy in our face and hope we're silly enough to run into that CBA," Capewell said.

"There's still so many parts that are nowhere near (acceptable) and we're prepared to fight for what we think is fair.

"The CBA controls a lot more than just our salaries; we want a fair revenue share, a genuine seat at the table, and want to be heard.

"It's not about the wage, it's about setting up funding for past players, welfare and tertiary education."

St George Illawarra and Cronulla were the other clubs to cancel NRL media opportunities at the last minute in recent days.

"At the moment we're not doing the NRL (promotional) stuff ... it's something we've all decided to do and hopefully grabs the NRL's attention and shows we're not happy," Capewell said.

"This is the most united the playing group's ever been."