RLPA question NRL over judiciary changes

Scott Bailey | March 10, 2022

The Rugby League Players Association claims it is concerned for player safety and says an NRL decision to introduce fines for shoulder charges and crusher tackles is a step backwards.

Just hours before the start of the season, the NRL revealed an overhaul of the controversial system in a bid to simplify player penalties.

But it is in the finer details that the union have expressed concerns.

They remain frustrated by the implementation of standard fines across the board, after calling for them to be abolished over the summer.

They are firm in their position they do not act as a deterrent for players and want them abolished for minor offences, while concerned that the fines do not cater to the wide range of player wages.

With that in mind, they are also miffed by the decision to make grade-one shoulder charges and crusher tackles into fines instead of automatic bans.

The union were only informed of the looming changes at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, after five months of reviews and consultation.

“We believe the decision to move grade-one shoulder charges and crusher tackles to a finable offence is a step backwards in decreasing instances of two of the most dangerous on-field discretions,” the union said in a statement. 

“Both of these offences carry significant health and safety ramifications and the threshold for these offences requires closer attention.

“The RLPA’s genuine concern is the health and safety element of crusher tacklers and shoulder charges. 

“The players do not believe fines have acted as a sufficient deterrent to any offences and, despite this, these two offences have now become finable offences.

“The RLPA has asked what evidence was used to determine that fines act as an effective deterrent from on-field foul play.”

It’s believed the change came with the fact there are some shoulder charges and crushers that have minor contact that do not cause injury but still need a deterrent.

Under the new system, players will be able to be fined an indefinite amount of times each year unless they plead not guilty to grade-one offences.

But the union said there was a way to ensure players did not miss finals or State of Origin matches for minor offences without the fines system.

“The removal of fines will not increase the risk of players missing milestone matches if more targeted improvements are made to the threshold for major matches,” the RLPA said.

“The NRL has regularly outlined the need for improved safety, as we heard and saw during last year’s high tackle crackdown. 

“Given this, it is the RLPA’s belief that the players’ views (coupled with industry medical experts) should take precedence over other stakeholders when considering it is their own health and safety that is being dealt with.”