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The Tip Sheet surges out of the bye with a massive preview of the Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL action on Saturday. Sixties and Forty20 are ready to rip into the previews but first they cover the major developing story in the NRL as the RLPA begins selective media strike action. The boys take a long look at the situation and where it could take the game with the NRL and the RLPA continue their stand off.
The other major happening this week is in the NRLW where the Parramatta Eels host the St George Illawarra Dragons in a preseason trial. In their first ever hit out at their new home at Eric Tweedale Stadium, a new look Parra roster will be looking to build combinations ahead of the season launch in a couple of weeks.
Saturday sees a trio of games for the Blue & Gold and it starts with the Jersey Flegg as they host the Rabbitohs at Ringrose Park. They are without three of their finest with Ethan Sanders, Charlie Guymer and Sam Tuivati playing for NSW Under 19s. In desperate need of a win, the boys look at how the Flegg can get it done.
The NSW Cup are another squad down bad for a win and they enter this week fresh off a bye. Their opponents in the New Zealand Warriors are inside the Top 4 and will be a tough ask to knock over.
Finally we arrive at the NRL with the Eels chasing a career high 6th straight win for Brad Arthur. With no Mitchell Moses, no Reagan Campbell-Gillard and no Clinton Gutherson they are down some serious strike power. Can the likes of Daejarn Asi, Sean Russell and Ofahiki Ogden stand tall?
There won’t be any strike action boys as the players do not get paid if they strike
Their contracts can be ripped up.
You think the Cameron Munster or Mitch Moses would be happy to just go out and get a day job to pay their mortgages?
Contracts can get ripped up if players strike.
Tony
Let me say I have no affinity with the union despite my past as being a former union member. Unions do nothing to improve the industry that feeds them they merely exploit weak management.
However there is little facts to go on with the latest word salad coming out of Clint Newtons offering. One thing that I did read, I think on Fox, was that the RLPA is looking to get more funds from the NRL to fund post retirement funds for ex players.
The big drive from the RLPA some time ago under Greenberg was to emulate the AFL by having the NRL commit to a specific percentage of revenue for the players something I have never agreed with.
As it turns they now want these funds for ex players to come from outside the ageed percentage take of the revenue. Believe what you will from this low validation statement from Fox. Or at least I think it was Fox.
My view is that the NRL commission is there to fund the growth of our game. The wellbeing of ex players is also important.
However I also believe that the players have a responsibility to look after their own. It is my understanding that they currently do to a degree. The support shown to Daniel Anderson has been outstanding.
This latest call from what I can gather comes late and also comes after revenue percentages and player salaries had been negotiated and agreed upon. If this is not true someone needs to clarify.
Maybe it is time for the RLPA and players to put their hands in their own pockets if they feel more needs to be done.
Its a great first move by the players association. The media pay the nrl’s bills, and they are impacted. Lesser ratings equals lesser revenues and 9 and fox won’t be happy putting pressure on Abdo and co.. There’s no way this is soft, its incredibly smart. Don’t listen to the biased media who blame it all on the players association, the senior players know that the nrl are the culprits in all this.
Of course the media are going to side with the nrl when you have Murdoch aligned with a few clubs and wanting more profits out of them lol.
I’m not unsympathetic to the RLPA. The NRL has poor leadership and needs to look after the game instead of certain egos. I’m including those in the media that are happy to use players and write rubbish about them to feed the eternal outrage machine. That said, I still need to educate myself more on what the issues are as it is still a bit opaque.
As for today, I’m maybe more hopeful than expecting an Eels win. The forward back will hold their own. The backs just need to be patient as you said and not overplay. On the train out to Parra now. Junior the first try scorer. Go Parra!