Injured stars left financially exposed

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NEITHER Alex McKinnon nor his family will be left out-of-pocket. Not if the early noises from NRL boss Dave Smith come to fruition.

Smith is personally determined to ensure the family do not want for anything, despite the NRL's ongoing failure to secure an insurance policy to cover career-ending injuries.

"The NRL and the rugby league family is there for Alex and will remain there for Alex," Smith said.

"It is, however, important to reflect on current circumstances and we will be reviewing insurance arrangements should a player experience significant injury.

Alex McKinnon of the Knights is carried off an a stretcher. Source: Getty Images

"But irrespective of the outcome of this review I have made it very clear that we will be there to support Alex in these circumstances."

While Smith's plan is to be universally applauded, his task of finding the money that will fund McKinnon's lifelong care is a much less straightforward issue.

In the absence of any financial safeguard, the ARLC's future fund — currently standing at $49.6 million — shapes as the most obvious well, apart from external parties who will be motivated to offer their support.

But should the game have been better placed to withstand a catastrophe such as this?

There's been no shortage of warning. Since 2011 three players — Simon Dwyer, Michael Greenfield and Daniel Conn — have been forced to retire because of spinal/neck problems.

Michael Greenfield comes off injured. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

The trio all bowed out before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was finalised a year ago, leaving them exposed to frightening medical costs because their contracts weren't guaranteed.

Of the three, former Wests Tigers forward Dwyer is the highest profile case.

The NRL could offer just $80,000 in compensation, and when the injury was sustained there was still $400,000 owing on his contract.

It was only goodwill from the Tigers that's kept Dwyer from financial ruin, or, worse still, having to engage a lawyer.

Injured Wests Tigers NRL player Simon Dwyer. Source: News Limited

The club drew-up a new contract that ensured Dwyer was paid out while working as a coaching assistant for the past three years.

Dwyer's ordeal highlighted the need for a wholesale insurance scheme, at least to cover players for two years after the onset of a career-ending injury.

When the CBA negotiations heated-up in late 2012, Dwyer's name was often raised as the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) pushed for clubs to guarantee contracts in all circumstances.

The RLPA was successful, but the question of insurance remained unresolved when the CBA was ratified in February 2013.

Its lone mention was for both the RLPA and NRL to make "best endeavours" to obtain a policy to indemnify against career-ending injury.

Former Titan Daniel Conn gets injured late in the game. Source: News Limited

More than 12 months down the track there's still nothing, with players now forced to secure personal insurance for peace of mind.

The game's longest serving player agent, Wayne Beavis, has been left exasperated after campaigning for an insurance scheme well before the CBA was signed off.

McKinnon's fate has not helped Beavis's blood pressure, even though he doesn't represent the stricken player.

Sadly, the complex issue of finding the right insurance policy took a back seat to wrangling over the salary cap, representative bonuses and minimum wage when the CBA was thrashed out.

The change of leadership at League Central hasn't assisted either, with Smith shuffling staff.

New Financial Controller Mark Wilson was only appointed in mid-October, and has been forced to confront a maze of premiums, excesses, and payout restrictions from the get-go.

Senior counsel Nick Weeks has been leading the hunt throughout, but still cannot find a suitable policy.

Alex McKinnon of the Knights lays on the ground after being tackled. Source: Getty Images

There's also the unenviable task of getting the NRL, RLPA and 16 clubs to agree.

The three groups have been discussing with greater urgency for the past six weeks.

The most recent teleconference — held two days after McKinnon's injury — contemplated a $1.6 million policy. The cost was to be split three ways, with the clubs liable for $50,000 per annum.

Most are refusing to pay that type of money unless the product is going to provide satisfactory cover, rather than be littered with restrictions that prevent injured players from claiming in most realistic circumstances.

"Everyone is concerned about player welfare, but three groups have different individual interests and it's difficult to get everyone to agree," one club CEO said.

"The NRL is worried about all levels of the game, the RLPA is worried about post-career and the clubs want some security, because we are exposed to the most risk at the moment.

"It's such a complex issue and really, something that should have been sorted out 18 months ago, rather than in the past six weeks."

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