I know some of the legal firms that are involved in the formation of a lot of NRL's contracts (Agreements) personally.Currently I'm using one of these firm's services to assist with commercial contracts made under common law.That are subject to my client's defense,listed in front of the Supreme Court against the Crime Commission.There is no way a journalist can know or a player's managers can disclose any of the Agreement's details without being in violation under common law.This is the reason why.
The contents below is straight out of an old Agreement that has been fulfilled and is currently not active.These sections included in the Agreements are the reason why.
***For clarity GROUP means National Rugby League.
SECTION 3:
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLAYER
3.1 General Obligations
The Player agrees to:
(t) the Club and the player or his representatives disclosing to the Group only any financial information relating to him which the Group requests be provided to it.
SECTION 19: CONFIDENTIALITY
19.1 Terms to be Kept Confidential.
The terms of this Agreement are confidential and shall not be disclosed by either party to any person or entity other than the GROUP,its servants or agents,without the prior written consent of the other of them, except for the purpose of:
(a) obtaining legal or financial advice; or
(b) the performance or the enforcement of the performance of the several obligations expressed herein.
SECTION 16: NEGOTIATING WITH OTHER CLUBS
16.1 Negotiations
During the Employment Term,the Player must not enter into any discussions,negotiations,contract,agreement,arrangement,understanding or option to play the Game for any other club without giving written instruction to the club including the details and remuneration.All negotiations should not be subject to the media or ought to be known as a member of the media,or any other party not employed by the club,to protect all parties involved,the GROUP'S and code's integrity and safeguard the code from competitive organizations.
16.2 Deemed Negotiations
For the purposes of Clause 16.1,if the manager, agent or representative of the Player enters into any discussions,negotiations,contract,agreement,arrangement,understanding or option to play the Game for any other club on behalf of the Player,then the Player shall be deemed to have authorized his manager,agent or representative to do so on his behalf.Authorized personnel are not to disclose any details of this contract to the media or ought to be known as a member of the media or to other parties not employed by the club.They must sign confidentiality agreements authorized by all clubs involved,to protect all parties involved,the GROUP'S and code's integrity and safeguard the code from competitive organizations.
***how does the media know the following section wasn't enacted after the new board was elected.
Section 21: Changed Circumstances
21.1 Player's Obligations if Circumstances Change
This Agreement has been entered into by the Club on the basis that the payments specified in it are fully inclusive of all payments except payroll tax that the Club is required to pay to or on behalf of the Player under any legislation,award or other industrial instrument that is in force during the Employment Term.If the Club is required to make any additional payment to or on behalf of the Player as a result of any new or amended legislation,award or other industrial instrument coming into force after the date of this Agreement,the Club shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement if the Player does not,within 21 days of being requested in writing to do so,enter into a new agreement for the balance of the Employment Term upon financial terms that will ensure that the total payments by the Club for each season in respect of the Player does not exceed the amount of the payments stated in this Agreement.
21.2 Clubs obligations if circumstance change
Clubs can amend together with the players consent any basis of the payments outlined in this Agreement.Both parties can enter into a new Agreement for the balance of the employment term where the balance of all previous forward payments and back payments do not amount to the payments stated in this Agreement.The club cannot offset any inclusive past payments made under any legislation,award or other industrial instrument but is required to restart fully inclusive all payments as outlined in this Agreement.
Section 27: Entire Agreement
This Agreement contains all of the terms of the agreement between the Player and the Club.Any information disclosed therein can only be known,shared,inspected and forwarded to the GROUP,unless required for legal or medical circumstances as outlined in sections:
5.2 Termination due to health risk.
6.1 Termination due toIncapacity.
6.2,6.2 (b),6.3,6.4 (ii) Payment on Termination.
8.1,8.2,8.3,8.4,8.5 (c) & (e) Player's Obligations.
9.1,9.1(a) Release of a player.
10 Fines and advances.
11 Disputes.
12 Insurance.
13 Health fund Membership.
14 Suspension of a player.
18.1 Representations and Warranties
21.1 Players Obligations if Circumstances Change.
***These next two sections are important,because it makes the Agreement's governance and disputes subject to common law,instead of an organization's constitutional's laws or code of practice.As clubs and NRL are subject to 'Registered Club Act 1976' for regulations and the 'Corporations Act 2001' for financial operations.Reason Agreements are governed by NSW laws,is because the NRL,that is run by the fully incorporated Australian Rugby League Commission is located in Sydney.
SECTION 26: SEVERABILITY
26.1 Agreement to be Upheld.
Where Possible.If it appears to any court that any restraint imposed or undertaken by this Agreement is invalid, or void, to any extent by,force of any statutory
provision or by reason or partly by reason of being an unreasonable restraint of trade, the parties agree that such restraint shall be valid to such extent, if any, as the court thinks fit and shall otherwise be severable from the other terms of this Agreement with the intent that this Agreement shall be read and construed as operating to the fullest extent in all respects.
SECTION 28: GOVERNING LAW
28.1 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of its courts.
So yes the media can speculate so can anyone else on the planet,but to report as if they know the exact details of our salary cap problem is sensationalism.Unless our new board are stupid enough to want to crush our club's moral.Possible,if their agenda is to excuse themselves and point blame at the previous board.Otherwise there is no way the media would know the full extent or contents of the Agreements.