Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters stars cover NRL logo as players’ war with footy bosses is taken up a notch

Footy players took to the field on Thursday night with a clear message to NRL bosses on Thursday night as they covered up the competition logo from their jerseys.

Footy chiefs and players have been at loggerheads all season, but tensions have reached boiling point in recent weeks, culminating in a major protest this weekend. 

Brisbane’s game against the Sydney Roosters saw players from both sets of players elect to obscure the NRL logo from their jerseys, in a clear message to footy bosses about their stance.

The players are protesting as a result of frustrations with the speed of talks between their representative group – the RLPA – and the NRL over the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The CBA is a deal between the NRL, the players and the clubs, which details the minimum terms and conditions of the players’ employment as well as important financial arrangements within rugby league.

Footy players sent a strong message to the NRL by covering the competition logo

The players’ union has grown frustrated with the slow rate of CBA negotiation progress

The CBA also covers a number of factors that are key to the relationships between the NRL, players and clubs and takes into account the interests of all parties.

Negotiations between the players and the NRL have dragged on for over eight months, with no sign of a deal being close to agreement. 

Last month, the players attempted to apply pressure on the NRL by staging a media boycott, but it failed to have the desired impact. 

Chad Townsend and Nita Maynard – leading voices for the male and female cohorts – confirmed plans to cover the NRL logo in response to an alleged lack of respect from the governing body. 

‘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,’ Townsend said. 

‘The NRL and NRLW players need our CBAs agreed as soon as possible, but we wont be dictated to by the Commission or NRL.’

Maynard added: ‘It’s Women in League Round, but NRLW players still don’t have a CBA. 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.’

More to follow.