By Adrian Proszenko
Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and James Maloney are among the most influential playmakers on the field and one of them is tipped to be thrust into a leading role off it.
More than 100 of the game's top players are expected to descend on Homebush Bay for the Rugby League Players' Association's annual general meeting on Monday. That number will double by the time out-of-town players participate via video link in what is shaping as a crucial strategy session as collective bargaining agreement negotiations ramp up with the NRL.
One of the first items of business is the appointment of a new board and president, a position Clint Newton will vacate to focus on his role as general manager of player relations.
Kangaroos skipper Smith, Cowboys champion Thurston, Cronulla's premiership-winning pivot Maloney and Parramatta co-captain Tim Mannah are the leading contenders for the post. Smith, a recently appointed RLPA board member, is the favourite, although the matter will go to the floor for a vote.
Influential: Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston may be voted in as the new RLPA president.Credit: Getty Images
The four are among the most respected voices in the game and would add gravitas to the union's quest to become as effective as its AFL counterparts.
"Clint will step down as president at the AGM and there will be an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible contribution he has made in that role," said RLPA boss Ian Prendergast.
"Monday's meeting is a fantastic opportunity for players to come together from clubs across the country to vote in new members of their board, including the president. They will also receive a detailed upgrade on the CBA negotiations so we can get their feedback and direction.
"It's a really important period for both players and the game in terms of seeking to negotiate a deal that reflects their value and contribution, as well as setting up the game for the future."
Potential president: James Maloney.Credit: Getty Images
While the salary cap is one of the headline issues, another discussion will centre around the NRL's request to have access to players' phone records, bank accounts and tax returns. The integrity unit is seeking to beef up its powers, particularly in relation to investigating gambling and match fixing. The NRL will likely point to issues such as the Tim Simona scandal and the formation of a police strike force to probe allegations of games being manipulated as reasonable grounds for further investigative powers.
Head office is likely only to ask for personal records if it reasonably suspects there has been a breach of its code of conduct, although there is likely to be some push back from the players.
The union has publicly stated its intention to fight for a fixed share of the game's revenue, likely to be another topic of contention between the parties. But perhaps the most pressing issue is the need to settle on a salary cap from next year, given that players and clubs are being forced to make deals without knowing where the goalposts will be.
"I'm really happy with how the process has been run up until this point," Prendergast said.
"The discussions have been extremely productive. I believe the players' interest are aligned with the NRL and clubs in terms of seeking to improve a whole range of areas through this process.
"However, all of those discussions are being underpinned by the players wanting to be considered genuine partners of the game going forward. There is now a lot of detail that we need to work through to ensure that objective is achieved and our players are empowered to help grow the game with the NRL and the clubs under the next CBA."