The NRL’s Women in League round has been met with controversy as the player-led union movement to secure a collective bargaining agreement escalates.
Players and members of the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) announced on Wednesday that they will cover the NRL logo on their jerseys in this weekend’s games.
The move follows months of stalled negotiations between the RLPA and the NRL to secure a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for both NRL and NRLW players.
The NRLW is the only major code in Australia without a CBA for its players, despite agreeing to financial terms and key policies in February 2022.
Lina Caccamo, the RLPA’s General Manager of Elite Women and Industrial Relations, said the current conditions for female rugby league players are not up to scratch.
“It is clear that the women still do not have their complete terms and conditions in place,” she said. “Yet they continue to perform their services in good faith.”
Nita Maynard from the Newcastle Knights said players want “protection and respect”, which is why they are fighting for a CBA.
“It’s Women in League round, but the NRLW players still don’t have a CBA,” she said.
“What does that say about the respect the NRL has for women playing rugby league?
“That’s why all players will be covering the badge. We want protection and respect.”
The RLPA and the NRL have engaged in 20 months of negotiating over a CBA for players. Recently the NRL responded to players’ settlement proposal with what has been described as a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer, with 100 substantial changes to the season schedule, financial reporting, international payments and more.
Chad Townsend from the North Queensland Cowboys, a member of the RLPA players’ advisory group, said both NRL and NRLW players affected by these changes will not be “dictated” by the NRL.
“We are escalating our action as a playing group because the NRL have shown a complete lack of respect by not agreeing to what is a very reasonable path forward in negotiations,” he said.
“The NRL and NRLW players need our CBAs agreed as soon as possible, but we won’t be dictated by the Commission or NRL.”
This week, the code celebrates Women in League round, recognising “those who are playing their part for women in rugby league”.
The 2023 NRLW season kicked off last weekend with more than 30,000 fans attending Round 1 matches.
The NRLW competition expanded from last year’s season to now involve ten teams and nine rounds. A new broadcast deal will also see the games televised in prime time.