Abdo responds after ‘scary’ reality laid bare

However, with the Rugby League Players Association still in the process of negotiating a new CBA with the NRL, the group hit out at the governing body for the “inappropriate” timing of the announcement.

While player salaries is an important part of the NRL’s CBA, the deal covers other important issues including post-retirement injury funds, private health insurance, pregnancy leave and percentage share in revenue.

Speaking on SEN’s Breakfast with Pat Welsh and Ian Healy, Brigginshaw said she has not set foot on a field since Australia’s victory in the Rugby League World Cup final because it is too dangerous to participate in training without a finalised CBA.

“We just need contracts so we can go and prepare for the NRLW season because right now we don’t have that,” she said.

“I haven’t been on a field since the World Cup final because I don’t want to risk injury.

“We are so far behind. Every year it’s like this. Then a week or two before we’re about to start we actually get things sorted and that causes immense pressure.

“We’ve already got to juggle jobs to play rugby league, let alone fight every battle and then to be given what you get is not good enough. This is why we need a CBA so we can get rid of that stress.”

On Tuesday night, Abdo went on Wide World of Sports’ 2GB radio to give his version of events.

“There’s been a lot of talk about this and not a lot of facts,” Abdo said.

“We really respect the value the players bring to the game. We’ve been looking at different ways we can get the CBA finalised.

“Almost two weeks ago we put forward an offer… $1.3 billion over a five-year cycle, which is 37 per cent increase for players, almost $367m more than in the previous cycle.

“We really have thought carefully about how we can maximise the distribution to players.

“The Commission has prioritised the clubs and the players, and we’ve made sure we’ve put forward as compelling an offer as we can to the players.”

Brigginshaw argued that it was the policies that were proving the biggest issue in getting the deal off the ground, not the pay arrangements.

“It’s mainly the policies, not the money,” she said.

“It’s the support structure. They’re saying we have to pay for our own insurance and that’s about $3,500 a year. They used our money last year to pay for it but now they’re saying ‘we’re not going to pay for that’.”

With this in mind, Brigginshaw was asked who would have to fit the bill if she had to undergo surgery on a sports injury.

“It’s the unknown,” she said.

“Some clubs will look after you but they could turn around and say, ‘Hey you’re not contracted, find some other help’.

“That’s the scary part about it. You can ask but they have a right not to pay out your contract. It’s a tricky place and girls struggle with it.”

Brigginshaw also said the women’s players weren’t seeing any of the money from the major sponsors supporting the NRLW.

“[NRL CEO] Andrew (Abdo) says he’s on board but I think there’re some people in there questioning what we deserve,” Brigginshaw said.

“We want multi-year contracts. We want yearly contracts but there are people in there that say we don’t deserve that.

“We’ve had a major sponsor come on board and take priority in the women’s game yet their money is not going towards the women’s game. A big bank has come on board and we don’t get to see any of that money. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

As it stands, Brigginshaw is not convinced the ordeal will be over soon – even claiming the men’s season will not go ahead without an agreement in order.

“We thought we were there but we’ve taken a step back. We know they can come to the party. I’m not sure what’s holding them back but as a playing group we’re stronger united,” she said.

“They think the men will just turn around and play but they are all holding their ground. It’s going to be a hairy couple of weeks.”

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

The Mole: Where the best junior players from 2012 NYC competition are now