The Rugby League Players Association have agreed to a pay deal which will see the players guaranteed 80 per cent of their contracts for the 2020 season in what was seen as a significant hurdle to play restarting on May 28.
Players will now return to official training tomorrow, albeit in reduced numbers, before full training resumes next week.
"It is full steam ahead for the resumption of the competition on May 28,” ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. “All eyes will be on the NRL as the only live sport on television. There will never have been more interest in rugby league than on May 28.”
#BREAKING: A pay deal has been reached between the players and the #NRL. #9News pic.twitter.com/YNz5RGFxaX
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) May 5, 2020
V’landys also made special mention of the Warriors and Storm, who have moved away from families to ensure the season can restart as planned.
"We said from the start we are all in this together and our players have proved that,” V’landys said. “Many of them are making significant sacrifices for the competition to re-start and that is not lost on anyone.
"The New Zealand Warriors and the Melbourne Storm have had to leave their homes and their families and on behalf of all rugby league fans we thank them for that and we thank all players who will be living with stronger restrictions than current government health orders.”
MORE: Strict biosecurity protocols laid bare as NRL players share concerns for restrictions around family
While negotiations played out publicly, according to RLPA CEO Clint Newton, the deal was a triumph of cooperation.
"We worked through arguably the fastest and most collaborative process in the game's history to secure clarity and clear direction for the industry and our members," he said.
"We set a new standard which should become the hallmark for our industry which will give us the best chance to build a more sustainable and solid foundation for the game's future."
More to come.
