The Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) has issued a dispute against the NRL's divisive no-fault stand down rule, arguing it infringes on the players' rights outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Any NRL player charged with a crime that carries a maximum jail term of 11 years or more is automatically prevented from playing until their legal issues are resolved under the policy.
The dispute comes after Jack de Belin's unsuccessful challenge of the policy in Federal Court which leaves the Dragons forward facing a lengthy period on the sidelines as he defends a rape allegation.
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Penrith's Tyrone May is also suspended due to the rule while Dylan Walker was only allowed to return to the NRL last weekend after he was acquitted of domestic violence charges.
RLPA chief executive officer Dennis Prendergast said the no-fault rule was not agreed to by the players or the RLPA when the CBA was negotiated in 2017.
"To be clear, our challenge under the CBA is about protecting the collective interests of our members," Prendergast said.
"We are acting to protect the rights of our members, the importance of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and our role as the representatives of players.
"If we allow changes like this policy to be made without our agreement, it completely undermines the ability for the RLPA to properly represent its members and the validity of the CBA."
Prendergast agreed the NRL needed to take action to preserve its image and sponsors after a nightmare off-season of incidents.
But he said the RLPA was not properly consulted – as is the agreement – before the no-fault rule was brought into place.
"We recognise that there was a need for the NRL to address the series of incidents that occurred during the off season and the pressure it placed the game under – particularly from commercial partners and other important stakeholders.
"The commitment under the partnership model is that we will put our heads together and jointly develop solutions to the societal issues impacting our game – but unfortunately that has not happened on this occasion.
"We remain committed to working with the NRL and clubs to find a better approach to dealing with complex issues of this nature and improving the culture within the sport, including around the respect and inclusion of women.
"We hope that this dispute process will achieve what needed to happen in the first instance – that we will meet with the NRL formally and discuss our differences of opinion – ultimately agreeing on a better and more collaborative approach to managing these issues."
The RLPA will attempt to resolve the matter through "good faith meetings" with the NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission.
If a mutual deal can't be reached the dispute will be referred to mediation.
In the event that doesn't bring an amicable end to proceedings, arbitration will commence to result in a binding decision.
"There is a defined dispute process under the CBA which the RLPA is committed to working through with the NRL," read an RLPA statement.
"The RLPA does not plan to play this dispute out publicly and will aim to work through it in a respectful and timely fashion."