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Important SN update for SouthlandNRL 'not concerned' as players fight judiciary change
Jasper Bruce, AAP • June 30th, 2025 2:30 pm
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's injury has led to talk of a controversial change to the judiciary system | Photo: Andrew Cornaga
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has doubled down on a controversial mid-season change to the game's judiciary rules and is not concerned about the Rugby League Players Association's (RLPA) fight to overturn it.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has been among those to criticise a change that would allow the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to bypass the previously independent match review committee and level charges at players for illegal on-field play.
The RLPA filed a formal dispute over the matter last week, claiming head office had not followed the proper consultation process as it proposed the rule change.
The game's collective bargaining agreement requires the league to give the RLPA a 14-day window before implementing any rule changes, during which time the union is able to formalise its position and come to the league back with any recommendations.
There is nothing stopping the NRL disregarding the RLPA's feedback after this window and proceeding with rules changes like the one to the judiciary code.
But the RLPA has told its members that its formal dispute has enacted the CBBA's "status quo provision", preventing the league from implementing the rule change until the two parties have held consultations.
Abdo is committed to meeting with the RLPA and chief executive Clint Newton, who previously called the proposed changes "unprecedented over-reach".
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has answered questions regarding judiciary changes at the NRLW season launch | Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
"They're entitled to say what they want to say. They've made their representations both publicly and to us," Abdo said.
"We'll consider those, meet with them and obviously try and continue the dialogue in a positive, constructive manner. We're not concerned.
"We feel like we've followed due process but obviously we'll sit down and talk through it."
But Abdo was convinced the change would allow for a more water-tight judiciary process, with the new rule aimed at allowing the ARLC to pick up offences missed by the match review committee (MRC).
He reiterated the rule would be used sparingly after claiming last week it may never need to be enacted at all.
"It's just an insurance policy, in rare circumstances where the commission might feel that the (MRC) policy hasn't been appropriately applied," Abdo said.
