The issue has angered fans for years but ARLC chairman Peter V’landys believes the time is right to stamp out players breaking NRL contracts to chase a bigger pay cheque.
At a meeting of the Australian Rugby League Commission on Wednesday, a proposal was discussed that would forbid an NRL player walking out on a contract to earn more money elsewhere.
The problem is not new, but has raised frustrations recently after Wests Tigers forward Josh Aloiai walked out on the final year of his deal to sign with Manly.
In September, representative prop Addin Fonua-Blake turned his back on the final two years of his deal with Manly to sign a multi-million dollar contract with the Warriors.
And after St George Illawarra lost rising star Jason Saab to the Sea Eagles earlier this week, V’landys insisted the time is right to tackle the issue.
“There has to be negotiations with the RLPA, but it’s a concern we have and it’s an area where fans are very much aggravated about it,” V’landys told AAP.
“I’ve always said we’re going to act on behalf of the fans and we always will because at the end of the day, if you don’t have fans, you don’t have viewers and you don’t have people paying admission, in the end you don’t have wages.
“It comes back to what aggravates the fans, and it’s been an aggravation for quite a while.
“Not only to the fans but the clubs. We’ll address the hard issues.”
Laws around player contracts and releases are complicated and the NRL is wary of the hidden implications that could arise with any small change or blanket rule.
Reasons for breaking contracts can vary, including clubs shopping players around to rival clubs or telling a player he is free to chase a deal elsewhere.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, any changes to employment terms will need to be discussed with the Rugby League Players’ Association, who are yet to see detail on proposed changes.
The two bodies are currently negotiating a reduction in the salary cap for 2021 which is expected to be around 7.5 per cent, although details have yet to be finalised.
“People have been a bit worried about this one, I’m not. We’ll address it,” V’landys said.
“We need the players to get engaged and we’ll certainly do that now as part of our negotiations with the salary cap.
“We’ll certainly be discussing it.”
