Who Runs RL?

RL needs to promote international matches and to spread the word. The problem was pro sports teams weren't releasing players. For that reason all major nations agreed that if the RLIF (International Federation) sanctioned a test, players must be released, provided it was within approved windows.

In just such a window, the RLIF approved one match per year for three years to be played in Denver, Colorado between England and New Zealand. Immediately howls of protests from pro clubs in Australia (NRL) that players may get injured or tired. Assurances were given that all insurances and the like would be arranged and medical staff approved the arrangement regarding player welfare.

The protests were lame because the NRL releases all players required to play three games in the middle of each season for a very intense competition between two states (State of Origin). Players get injured and are drained physically in that series but no one complains because it is for the good of the game in Australia. Players not involved in that series attending one test match during that time should be viewed in the same light.

The NRL and the Australian RL relented for this one game. Then suddenly this: Clubs will not be compelled to release players for the Denver Test match between New Zealand and England after a joint letter signed by the NRL, the Rugby League Players Association and the NRL clubs said they would not support the match. 

Although the group conceded the match would go as planned this year, it warned NRL players would not be released for the fixture if it goes ahead as scheduled in 2019 and 2020. The NRL has ruled out sanctioning clubs who do not let their players play.  “We have no doubt that you will do everything in your control to provide for the safety and welfare of the players while under your care, but the simple reality remains that the extent of travel and (lack of) recovery time cannot be considered ‘best practice’,” the letter read...."we will not compel clubs to release players for the match."

Three intense SOO series in the middle of a season isn't best practice either, as players who come back from that series are drained and unable to give of their best for some weeks later. So what's the real issue here? SOO is good for the game in Australia so any strain or injuries to players is OK. A test match not involving Australia doesn't give anything to Australia so everything changes. The hypocrisy stinks.

They agreed to support the test for 2018 and comply with the rule of players who are eligible must play, although they clearly didn’t want to. They have very quickly backtracked on that. Their word cannot be trusted. Australia is also going against the rules they agreed to, that is international RL as approved by the RLIF must be supported. By saying that for 2019 they will refuse to release players even if the test match is officially approved goes against that and therefore is open defiance. A line has been drawn in the sand. It's about who runs the international game.

We all know that Australia has been pulling the strings for decades, then they agreed that the RLIF should have more power. When the RLIF use that power and Australia doesn’t agree with it, then they renege on their agreement. If the RLIF insist they have the mandate to OK the 2019 test, Australia says it will defy that. If the RLIF back down, then it goes back to Australia being the puppeteer of international of RL.