For better or for worse, rule changes are becoming quite the frequent occurrence in the NRL recently, with the league’s in-game legislation being altered regularly, including changes being made in the middle of the season.

At the end of each season, the competition’s power brokers come together to take a look back at the year that has been and discuss how they can improve going forward.

Representatives from the Rugby League Players Associations have spoken out and requested a seat in said meeting of the minds as they would like to have a bigger say in the topic of potential rule changes in the following statement.

“The process for rule changes throughout the 2021 season is of significant concern for the playing group,” the statement read.

It’s an honour to be a part of the @RLPlayers advisory group for both @NRL men and women.

Here are a few key takeaways from our first meeting last night:https://t.co/qe5ACyjDIW #NRL pic.twitter.com/0DCPUVHFWu

— Chad Townsend (@chadtownsend10) September 22, 2021

“These decisions were made without the RLPA directly involved, which deprived the process of the collective feedback from those with intimate on-field knowledge and those most impacted by the changes.

“It is vital that the RLPA is directly involved in any review of the 2021 season, allowing the views of those who actively participated to be heard.

“It is expected that the RLPA’s involvement in both rule review and implementation be a prerequisite moving forward.”

The RLPA has been quite busy lately, with their fight for all NRLW players to have their contracts paid out for the postponed 2021 season ongoing, as well as their pursuit to see an increase in fines to discourage players from misbehaving.

If the RLPA is successful in their bid to have heftier fines, then the maximum fine a male player can receive for misconduct will be increased by $75,000 from $50,000 to $125,000.

We have never seen such a vast disconnect between the NRL and its athletes, especially its female athletes, as on top of the RLPA’s fight to have the NRL payout every NRLW player for this season, the RLPA are also pleading with the game’s decision-makers to provide better financial security for NRLW players in 2022 because they will be embarking on two seasons in the same year, with what was supposed to be the 2021 season kicking off at the start of 2022 and the 2022 season to be played during the NRL finals series as planned.