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Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has lauded his fellow NRL players for standing their ground in the protracted collective bargaining agreement (CBA) dispute that was resolved this week.
- The RLPA and NRL reached an in-principle CBA on Thursday afternoon
- Both parties had been at loggerheads over several conditions
- Cherry-Evans says the players "have shown a heap of solidarity"
Nine months after the last agreement expired, the Rugby Leagues Players' Association (RLPA) and NRL brokered an in-principle CBA on Thursday afternoon.
This means a draft CBA is only days away from being tabled for both parties' approval.
The financial conditions of the CBA, which lasts until 2027, had been agreed upon last year, with a total of $1.35 billion to be allocated to players between 2023 and 2027.
But the parties had been at an impasse over other working conditions, including access and ownership of player data, the season's length and allocation of funds to the RLPA's programs.
All outstanding issues were resolved during a series of talks held between the two warring parties on Wednesday and Thursday.
Industrial action taken by the players, most notably match-day media boycotts, were lifted on Thursday ahead of Manly's clash with Penrith at Brookvale Oval in anticipation of the new CBA coming into effect.
Speaking after the match, RLPA general president Cherry-Evans applauded his fellow players for sticking solid throughout almost two years of negotiations.
"It's been a very long process. I don't remember a CBA taking 20 months to get done," he said.
"Everyone that's been involved and particularly the RLPA and the players' side needs to be commended.
"The players have shown a heap of solidarity.
"I'm really proud of the playing group because there's been a lot of chances for us to give in and fold but we believe in what we're fighting for.
"I think now we can all just move on and talk about the footy."
Cherry-Evans praised RLPA chief executive and former NRL player Clint Newton for his role in helping to broker peace.
"Clint Newton has copped a lot of criticism throughout this process," he said.
"He's been so loyal to the playing group. I think he needs to be commended for it all. We're proud of Newto, he's done a fantastic job."
RLPA delegate Isaah Yeo believed players would be pleased the negotiation process had finally come to an end.
"The players are very happy about that," the Penrith co-captain said.
"We wanted better rights. I think that was the sticking point. It wasn't financial, we wanted better rights for the players. Everything's been ticked off by the sounds of it."
AAP
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