<p>SENIOR representative stars are fed up with a chronic lack of support from the Rugby League Professionals Association (RLPA), which will soon be led by a solicitor with links to the NRL.</p> <a href="http://www.silvertails.net/news/3958-players-fed-up-with-their-union.html">Read the full article</a>
The RLPA receives $320,000 per annum, mostly funded directly by the clubs. If you think that they will have a number of full-time staff and the number of players who get into trouble that they have to represent and the cost of legal representation, then they probably run out of money by June each year. That doesn't leave anything for all the long-term issues the players are looking for representation on. They also run and host the Golden Boot player awards and also co-work with the NRL on the Education and Welfare program for players. I can understand the players frustration as the RLPA hasn't done much in protecting Brett, as an example, and if that is their level of commitment you have to wonder. The RLPA called for an independent body to be established to deal with off field indiscretions and then did a backflip. They need to be more focused with prioritising of player issues by feeback from club player representatives. The players need to be serious and consider most workers on 50k cough up at least $300 a year to their union. The union needs to get serious and manage issues such as payment for use of player images by the NRL and when players get injured. Considering that almost every player these days has a manager representing them it almost makes sense that a Players Agent Association (PAA) would be able to negotiate something more substantial for the players.
The last thing a players association should have is a lawyer at the head of its table. It sounds like a natural fit but is really a very bad choice.
