The Rugby League Players Association "dramatically raised the stakes in its pay war" with the National Rugby League by warning it is "ready to test the legality of the salary cap in court if the parties remain at loggerheads," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. In a move that "could have repercussions for every major sport in the country," RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast notified NRL CEO Todd Greenberg of its options late last week, "heightening pressure" on the two sides to reach some form of agreement in the lead-up to next week’s meeting of club powerbrokers in Sydney. As well as a legal challenge of the salary cap, the RLPA indicated the Dally M Awards "are in jeopardy if it is unable to close the gap on a range of issues vital to the game’s future." The union also "made it clear that it now wields greater influence over the intellectual property rights of players and is not afraid to use that power to press its cause." The "one way out" will be if the union can convince the NRL and its clubs to increase the figure, although it is believed club CEOs "reiterated their support for the game's governing body" during a phone call on Wednesday (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/10). The AAP reported Canterbury Bulldogs coach Des Hasler took a "sly shot" at the NRL over its inability to finalize the salary cap and the "environment of uncertainty" it has created around his club. Asked if the NRL had created an atmosphere of uncertainty, Hasler said, "I think that that is the understatement of the year. It certainly doesn't help. The players are very professional and they understand what it's about. I don't think [the uncertainty] creates any paranoia" (AAP, 8/9).
MEETING OF THE MINDS: In Sydney, Roy Masters reported a meeting of over 300 NRL players in Sydney on Monday, "called to discuss the CBA negotiations, is likely to be the biggest show of industrial muscle in Australian sport." The RLPA asked each of the 16 NRL clubs to send 20 players to a meeting on Aug. 21 "at a Sydney venue yet to be decided because of the size of the gathering." Given the large numbers of players present and the "growing frustration at the protracted negotiations," the meeting could vote to boycott upcoming NRL events. However, the NRL and RLPA are "optimistic" of a resolution and have produced an "ideal timeline," ending with a meeting of the Australian Rugby League Commission on Aug. 24. The NRL scheduled a meeting of club execs for Aug. 17 to "present what it hopes is an agreed in principle five-year CBA with the RLPA" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/9).
