Thought this deserved its own thread. Following the conclusion of Round 1 games and a combination of the officiating and the MRP's farcical punishments and bans handed out it now seems the players have possibly had enough according the Matt Shaws article. To be honest I can't say I can blame the players and feel if they did come out with some sort of strike action that in the main most supporters of the game would back their decision. It seems that players are not spoken to or even consulted about the many changes (most supposedly in their interests too) and for Walmsley and Yates to speak up so early in to a season I think speaks volumes as to the disillusionment within the players. The RFL need to act and act fast on this matter in what is a hugely important year for the sport given the work with IMG etc. Granted Phil Bentham has been brought in as Ganson replacement but the fact that took so long and Ganson was left to cause carnage was just another example of poor management. Hopefully Bentham will make some positive progressin his new role. However one area that the RFL need to look at and act immediately is the MRP and Cullen as the Head/Chair of this kangeroo court as it is making a mockery of the game and destroying it.

Thought this deserved its own thread. Following the conclusion of Round 1 games and a combination of the officiating and the MRP's farcical punishments and bans handed out it now seems the players have possibly had enough according the Matt Shaws article. To be honest I can't say I can blame the players and feel if they did come out with some sort of strike action that in the main most supporters of the game would back their decision. It seems that players are not spoken to or even consulted about the many changes (most supposedly in their interests too) and for Walmsley and Yates to speak up so early in to a season I think speaks volumes as to the disillusionment within the players. The RFL need to act and act fast on this matter in what is a hugely important year for the sport given the work with IMG etc. Granted Phil Bentham has been brought in as Ganson replacement but the fact that took so long and Ganson was left to cause carnage was just another example of poor management. Hopefully Bentham will make some positive progressin his new role. However one area that the RFL need to look at and act immediately is the MRP and Cullen as the Head/Chair of this kangeroo court as it is making a mockery of the game and destroying it.

Good on the players, particularly Luke Yates, for standing up to this nonsense.

It is astounding that such significant rule changes are not even consulted with the players. Any player who decides to strike would have my full support.

Good on them , They get my full support .

I think the players do need to look at creating a union for themselves. At the very least it would provide a unified body for the powers that be to consult on matters.

Didn't Gareth Carvell try to get a players union up and running but at the time he didn't get much support for it?

Its not just the players but also the clubs need to speak up and out about the total mismanagement of the game at player level especially in terms of the farce that is the MRP. There is no longer any hiding place as all games are now shown.

I believe Wilkin tried also so it will be interesting to hear his opinion as he's been banging on just about every incident from last week .

It's great to hear the players are as sick as the fans with the way the games going, I'd 100% back any strike action against the rfl/mrp but it needs to be a large majority or the select few speaking out will just get hammered with bans and fines.

A players strike would cause huge embarrassment to the rfl and even sky.

Not worth labour too much on this because we will only be told that we are the most affected so we will shout loudest. But you only have to look across other clubs boards to see how disenchanted fans are with the game and how many have even lost interest. These are not just Johnny come lately types but some long term old timers who have frequented these sites for decades.

We get rid of Ganson and we all knew what was going on there, after several good officials chucked it!! Then after a long and protracted process where he was agitating behind the scenes he's removed but we leave Cullen in situ who we know of old, is so far up his own backside he can see his own tonsils!! This has happened with charges and suspensions so much in the past, openly riling players, coaches club officials and owners that it can only point to an over inflated ego on the part of the panel and particularly it would appear the Chairman.

To openly state that the players have been consulted on rule changes and the players completely deny that process took place is just the sort of stuff that will ensure our game will never progress. Sadly, ITS TYPICAL BRITISH RL!! I know some players who have stated in the past few months that they would even have preferred mandatory head gear to the current convoluted rule that are so open to interpretation and in the heat of the battle so hard to conform with. If the players feel that strongly about it and they are obviously conscious of the way all this stuff is diluting the appeal of the game, then good luck to em. they have my full support.

Fully support the players on this - and it needs to be 80-85% of them that stand up to this.
As fans, I would even look at boycotting a round of matches as well, or Magic Weekend.
For the RFL to look at player welfare, yet not speak to the players about it - and they don't want these rules that are there to 'protect' them. The rules that have been brought in, don't stop head contacts and eradicate concussions and 'possible' issues in the future, they just penalise players and teams, as well as the spectators in the present

Magic round would be good call .