Penrith captain Isaah Yeo has revealed the NRL has been given a deadline by which to accept a number of elements of a proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) wants to have a response by close of business on Thursday relating to non-financial aspects of the proposal, specifically relating to the women’s game.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting players are threatening to delay start times of pre-season challenge games this weekend – the first on Thursday night – and cover NRL logos.
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As negotiations drag out Yeo insists strike action is a genuine option for the players.
The representative backrower is not confident a deal is close to being struck.
“I feel like we’ve given them a chance now until the end of Thursday. If we have to take more action as a group then we’ll do that.,” Yeo told media on Wednesday.
“If things keep breaking down like they are and we don’t get resolutions, (boycotting games) is obviously the absolute extreme.
“It’s something the players don’t want to get to. We all want to play football.
“I’m sure it will all be sorted out before then.”
The RLPA and NRL have been at loggerheads over terms of a new player CBA, and the situation is reaching crisis point with the men’s season to kick off on March 10.
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Players have threatened to snub the season launch, and are refusing to do promotional material for the governing body until a deal is reached.
The most extreme measure for players would be to boycott season games.
Critics of the players’ cause have labelled them greedy, but Yeo says that’s mainly due to misinformation.
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“It feels like some parts of the media are pushing the NRL’s case and saying we’re greedy. It’s not the case,” Yeo said.
“We are trying to look after each other, not just through football but post-football as well.
“There’s a lot that goes into it. I feel like some of the people who are coming out and saying stuff don’t have their heads wrapped around it fully.
“It’s not just about money, it’s about looking after each other away from footy once it’s all done.
“It’s being perceived in a lot of different ways, but we’re not being greedy, we’re just trying to look after one another.”
Adding fuel to the fire this week was allegations from the RLPA a senior NRL staffer had illegally recorded a meeting with players on Friday.
“I wasn’t there for that, but obviously I heard,” Yeo said of the alleged incident.
“It’s just another breakdown in trust, really.”
The RLPA fired off a letter to ARLC chairman Peter V’landys on Tuesday demanding action over the alleged recording incident.
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