Mediation between the NRL and the code’s referees has failed and the game’s whistle-blowers will proceed with legal action.
Nine’s Danny Weidler reports the referee’s union has dug its heels in during negotiations, refusing to take a backward step over plans to use just one referee for the 2020 season.
The match officials claim they want to avoid a strike but that form protest is still a possibility.
The referees’ union claims their agreement with the NRL is based on a two-referee, two-touch-judge model.
They also claim the NRL did not properly consult them before making the change back to one referee.
More to come …