Ricky Stuart fumes over NRL players' media boycott
It's a rare occasion that Ricky Stuart shows sympathy to journos, but the player media blackout has stirred some strong opinions in the Raiders coach.
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart believes NRL players are being 'used' by the Rugby League Players Association after the union implemented a media blackout in response to stalled negotiations on the new collective bargaining agreement. Players will not undertake any media obligations on match days, including pre and post-game interviews, a move set to impact the upcoming State of Origin finale.
Negotiations between the players and NRL have dragged on for nearly two years, with the RLPA justifying the media boycott by arguing concerns remained over tabled agreements which allow the league to extend the season, as well as the financial affairs of the union. RLPA boss Clint Newton says players are not seeking more money from the NRL at this stage, with they key concerns lying elsewhere.
'RUDE': Greg Alexander blows up on TV over Bradman Best question
'I BELIEVE HIM': Billy Slater defends Reece Walsh after Origin ban
During a media session on Thursday, Stuart said he had sympathy for the assembled media, who he believed shouldn't have been dragged into the dispute . The RLPA has attracted some criticism that they risked biting the hand that feeds, an argument Newton has conceded has some merit, but says the risk is worth it.
Starting from Thursday, both men's and women's players will boycott all game day media. Newton said the drastic move had been made to pressure the NRL into moving on from the current 'impasse'.
Stuart wasn't buying it however, arguing the RLPA was biting off more than it could chew. He argued the league needed to be run at arm's length from players.
"It's not your (the media's) fault they can't be in agreement," Stuart said. "I feel sorry for the players because I believe if you spoke to 95 per cent of the players they wouldn't even know why they're not allowed to talk to the media.
"I think they've been used and it's wrong because there's young boys there that have no idea why it's there, and I just think they've been used in this regard. We've got very strong leadership, they know what's right for the game. They should be running the game, not the players."
RLPA standing firm on media boycott amid criticism
Newton outlined a number of the players' key concerns, including questioning the fairness of the NRL's proposed agreement and the perceived ultimatum. "Do you think it's fair the NRL can add more matches into the season without the agreement of players?" he asked.
"Do you think the NRL should control and sell player data and personal information without complying with privacy law? To control how much money the players distribute to the funds that they have established?
"Do we think the NRL reducing the way in which they report on their financials year after there was a failure to properly disclose $28 million that was owed to players (is fair)? There's an impasse, but we are saying there is a way forward."
When suggested the players were biting the hand that feeds them by turning their back on the media, Newton admitted it was a risk but reiterated they wanted independent mediation and were not killing talks altogether.
"You can't just take action without first of all being pushed into it," he told SEN.
"I don't know what the other alternative is when the other party have said 'take it or leave it'.
"We're not negotiating anymore, there is no way around finding trade offs. ... we're not looking at problem solving.
"I'm not quite sure what the other alternative is, unless you want to accept a sub-standard deal."
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
