The National Rugby League (NRL) has suspended its new measure to safeguard against future salary cap rorting after an outcry from unions representing players and agents.
Last week the NRL quietly introduced a requirement that players and their representatives sign statutory declarations pledging their contracts comply with the NRL's salary
cap.
The obligation was introduced in the aftermath of the Melbourne Storm's cap scandal - even though an investigation cleared players and their representatives of any wrongdoing.
The Rugby League Players Association (RPLA) only learned about the scheme via media reports yesterday.
"Apparently nobody at the NRL considered this was an important matter to bring to our attention," said RLPA boss David Garnsey.
"This is yet another example of the NRL's culture of non-consultation."
Garnsey was seeking legal advice to determine whether his members could be forced to sign the declarations.
Players Agent Association (PAA) chairman Steve Gillis was also unhappy his organisation had not been consulted and likened the NRL's new dispensation to an "ambush".
"Whilst the PAA welcomes transparency in regards to playing contracts, the process the NRL has undertaken fails all the tests of due process with no reasonable opportunity having been provided to the stakeholders for consultation," he said.
NRL chief executive David Gallop acknowledged the RLPA and PAA should have been consulted and gave them seven days to submit feedback.
However, the statutory declarations seem destined to stay, barring a successful legal challenge.
"The RLPA can't seriously be saying that players are prepared to sign a contract which promises the terms are accurate but that they won't sign a declaration that swears the same thing," Gallop said.
"We have been very public this year in outlining the need to make people more accountable in terms of the contract payments that are submitted and it seeks to protect players and agents from any innuendo around their knowledge of salary cap cheating."
Players were divided when advised of the new development.
Melbourne captain Cameron Smith, who pleaded ignorance when his deal was found to have contributed to the club's illegalities, said he would be happy to sign though Parramatta veteran Nathan Hindmarsh was not convinced.
"I haven't really looked into that but I don't think so," he told SkySports Radio.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen did not foresee any problems.
"Why would there be a problem signing it? You sign your tax return."
- NZPA
New measures by the NRL to avoid salary cap rorting have been stopped. Photo / Richard Robinson
The National Rugby League (NRL) has suspended its new measure to safeguard against future salary cap rorting after an outcry from unions representing players and agents.
Last week the NRL quietly introduced a requirement that players and their representatives sign statutory declarations pledging their contracts comply with the NRL's salary
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