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AAP
AAP
Sport
Melissa Woods

Alleged NRL recording of meeting angers players union

Melbourne's Christian Welch says the alleged recording of a players' meeting by a NRL official is a breach of trust that needs to be investigated by the governing body's integrity unit.

The NRL legal team is reportedly interviewing its own staff members after a senior employee was accused of secretly recording discussions between players and NRL boss Andrew Abdo at the Leaders in League conference last Friday.

The Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) is already threatening strike action over the bitter pay dispute, with the latest development further souring relations between the two parties.

Storm prop Welch, who is on the RLPA board, said the actions were a step backwards.

"We had some progress and we had some really disappointing events that happen at our Leaders conference," Welch said on Wednesday.

"I haven't heard too much, but I hope the NRL are taking it as seriously as we are because it's a really, really severe thing that's happened.

"You know, breaking trust, for 70 leaders at our conference at our safe space, they were welcomed in to present.

"I hope the NRL and their integrity unit are taking it really seriously."

The players and the league have been locked in a stalemate since the collective bargaining agreement expired last November.

The NRL season launch is already in jeopardy as the RLPA continues to fight for better conditions post retirement, chiefly seeking medical retirement and transition funds for the health and education of players.

Parramatta back-rower Shaun Lane, a RLPA delegate for the Eels, told AAP this week the dispute had lingered for too long and a strike may be the only solution.

Welch didn't want to comment on that particular action but said there would be an "escalation" by the players, with the lack of a CBA for female players a priority.

"Escalation is probably a variety of things ... probably can't comment too much on it, but certainly by the end of this week if the women are still where they're at, it's unacceptable in the RLPA's eyes," he said.

Welch, who will make his return from 12 months out with a ruptured Achilles on Sunday in the Storm's pre-season match against the Sydney Roosters, said he was passionate about making a difference.

"I'm really passionate about improving conditions for players and at the moment the women are doing it really tough," he said.

"They can't sign contracts, they're not training, they're really in limbo to be honest.

"And the the leverage that women have, it's pretty limited at the moment - they can try and amplify their voice on social media but ... it's hard for them to take action.

"The men need to stand up - it's unacceptable that they (the women) have no clarity on their CBA or their financial model.

"We made some progress last week and hopefully it will continue this week so we don't need to escalate it but I know the 17 men's clubs are fully behind the women and if we don't start seeing some movement there we will certainly be looking to escalate it."

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