Fiji National Rugby League Chief Executive Officer Timoci Naleba has stated that blaming each other on who is responsible for the disbursement of the $125,000 prize money to the players will not help solve the issue.
Naleba’s comments come after claims that were made by Fiji Bati Captain, Kevin Naiqama to remove FNRL Board members naming the current board “unprofessional”.
Naiqama had earlier called for the Fiji National Rugby League board to be voted out and he also said that the players will boycott all Fiji Bati test matches until they get their World Rugby League prizemoney.
Naleba says that FNRL is a public company and there are procedures that need to be followed before any action is taken.
Naleba says that the players themselves had agreed for the payment to be made by the National Rugby League.
When questioned by LegendFM News on the issue of some players’ missing passports and expired visa which almost cost Fiji Bati forward Viliame Kikau close to missing their semi final defeat to Australia after being stuck in New Zealand, Naleba says that he cannot deny it, as it is a fact.
He says that a Manager and a group of local staff were appointed by the Board to look after the players welfare which also included Petero Civoniceva.
Naleba says that the responsibility was supposed to be shared amongst all staff members and not just by one person.
He stated that the Head Coach is also responsible for anything to do with the players.
Veteran Bati hooker James Storer also took to social media that it is not about the money but about the future of up and coming Bati players and that it is time for a change adding that Fiji is the only country that has not received their prize money.
Naleba confirmed to Fijivillage that the players should be receiving their prize-money from NRL within the next ten days.
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