"I don't know who has tossed that up": Mannering rules out World Cup boycott

New Zealand forward Simon Mannering has ruled out a boycott of the Rugby League World Cup if NRL players don’t reach agreement over a new collective bargaining agreement before the tournament.

NZL

Speculation about NRL players taking strike action during the World Cup was reported recently in the Australian media but Mannering said that was not an option as the tournament is run by the International Rugby League Federation.

"I don't know who has tossed that up," Mannering.

"I don't think that is the way to go about it, striking at a World Cup."

"The NRL has nothing to do with the World Cup. The World Cup is a totally separate entity and the only thing that will hurt are the guys that are at the lower end that get a chance to play for their country and play at the World Cup.

The World Cup is the major source of revenue for the RLIF and the profits from the tournament will be used to fund the game in developing nations for the next four years.

While Mannering said there was a possibility that players could take some sort of industrial action if negotiations with the NRL drag on, the former Kiwis captain would never contemplate damaging the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 27 to December 2.

“I definitely don't see that happening and definitely won't be supporting it," he said. "And I am sure if you talk to a lot of other guys they wouldn't as well.

“There are other ways we can try and get our point across."

By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017