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NRLW Going bust ?

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
NRLW Clubs are up in arms over the excessive costs and no NRL grants to run the 4 week comp

Interesting few articles over the last few days
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
15,146
It is an interesting attitude considering 2 of the NRLW clubs are Brisbane and the Roosters who seem to have limitless deep pockets when it comes to the NRL teams. These two clubs are the ones who argue against a salary cap on football club expenditure because "why should successful clubs be held back by poorly run clubs".
Anyway I am a fan of rugby league women starting their own competition and going it alone. Negotiate their own TV deals with free to air and fox. Make their own rule changes etc.
 

Hawkins

Juniors
Messages
1,993
The league pays for the Gold Coast and Knights they can f**king pay a little coin for the NRLW and quit bitching.
 
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adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
Story doesnt add up.

1. No clubs involved quoted, The only quote is from Richo, who manages to simultaneously complain that Souths can't afford it and sook that they were denied by the NRL.

2. The number threatening to send the clubs spiraling into debt is around $350k, or equivalent to the salary of 1 middle of the road NRL player. Pleeeeease.


The only thing this story proves is why South Sydney were rightfully denied a foundation position in this competition.
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
Story doesnt add up.

1. No clubs involved quoted, The only quote is from Richo, who manages to simultaneously complain that Souths can't afford it and sook that they were denied by the NRL.

2. The number threatening to send the clubs spiraling into debt is around $350k, or equivalent to the salary of 1 middle of the road NRL player. Pleeeeease.


The only thing this story proves is why South Sydney were rightfully denied a foundation position in this competition.

Read the other article

The Souths article is a response article

Highlighting that Souths had done due dilengence and indicated that it would $350k to run the team and had requested the NRL to provide a NRLW grant
 
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siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
Here is the main article

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.da...n/news-story/e4d9414fdf4cb82e79a91a7aace8c773


Clubs reveal cost of running team in NRLW competition
MARCH 26, 2019

The NRL women’s competition is costing participating clubs a whopping combined total of $1.5 million a season — and they want urgent financial help.

The Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra, New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos have held private phone hook-ups to discuss the financial drain of the four-week competition, which runs through September.

A source said they even spoke about withdrawing from the competition but felt it would be “embarrassing” for the game. The four clubs remain committed — for now.

Each club is outlaying between $300,000 to $400,000 a year to field a team — without any financial assistance. Brisbane are the only side that can comfortably absorb that cost.

Player and coach payments, as well as a $50,000 entry fee, are among the costs.

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Elianna Walton charges into the Dragons defence last year. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL pays costs — including staff, administration, travel and accommodation — but doesn’t provide any additional funds for women’s teams above the $13 million grant it gives all clubs.

That could change once the next broadcast deal is secured.

Currently, the NRL gives all clubs a $13m annual grant with no additional funds. The AFL is understood to pay each club fielding a women’s side $250,000 a season.

The NRL said each club was aware of the costs involved — including the entry fee — when asking to be included in the competition two years ago.

The women’s rugby league competition was deemed a success last year because of solid crowds and ratings. But the financial drain on clubs has caused some angst.

“All administrative costs of running the women’s premiership are picked up by the NRL, while participating clubs are responsible for their own team-related costs, as is the case with the NRL men’s competition,” Tiffany Slater, NRL general manager of women’s elite program, said.

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Stephanie Hancock and Heather Ballinger got their hands on the inaugural NRLW Trophy after the Broncos defeated the Roosters in the grand final. Picture; Getty Images

“Clubs entered into the competition voluntarily under the terms and conditions offered last year, and we had several disappointed clubs who missed out on an initial licence despite their keenness to be included as a foundation club.”

The NRL, which will meet later this year to review the competition, with expansion a possibility, states each club could reduce expenditure if needed and that costs are “within the clubs’ control.”

Some clubs, according to the NRL, did not apply for entry into the competition due to the anticipated costs. Others applied and missed out on a licence.

Minimal sponsorship for the competition — which has only run for one year — does help alleviate some of costs. There have been suggestions that players want a small increase in payments — a request that will be rejected.

The Broncos, Warriors, Roosters and Dragons had hoped the NRL would offer grants to cover some of the costs. One official close to the clubs: “Surely the NRL can find $1m and give each club a couple of hundred thousand.”

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Tazmin Gray struggles to break free of the Dragons’ defence. Picture: AAP

It is understood some major sponsors of the NRL have insisted on having a women’s competition. The clubs feel they are now “subsiding” NRL sponsorship.

NRL officials remain committed to the women’s competition. Clubs were reluctant to comment because the issue was deemed too politically sensitive.

The 12 clubs which do not field sides may object to the NRL outlaying additional money for clubs with a women’s side. There is a fear that expanding the competition may expose a lack of depth among women’s rugby league.

“The NRL women’s competition is a critical component in the ongoing development of rugby league,” Slater said. “The NRL has a commitment to not only increasing female participation, but also broadening the appeal of our game to more women.

“Expansion of the competition for 2020 and beyond will be considered later this year based on a detailed assessment of the development of playing talent, enhancement of the quality of the competition, and long-term financial sustainability.”

The NRL employ staff to run the women’s competition. A women’s State of Origin game will be played as a stand-alone event on June 21 at North Sydney Oval
 
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kbw

Bench
Messages
2,502
That article was a pile of dog doo. All the clubs knew they had to fund their WNRL campaigns and the 4 successful clubs were the ones actually willing to put their hands in their pockets. This article is just sour grapes Richo's behalf as they did not want to spend a cent and doubt they could afford it anyway.

Interesting they say the clubs had to pay a $50K entry fee. I seem to remember when talking to people involved in the application process that it was the other way round, that $50K was the grant the NRL paid to the sucessful clubs
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
That article was a pile of dog doo. All the clubs knew they had to fund their WNRL campaigns and the 4 successful clubs were the ones actually willing to put their hands in their pockets. This article is just sour grapes Richo's behalf as they did not want to spend a cent and doubt they could afford it anyway.

Interesting they say the clubs had to pay a $50K entry fee. I seem to remember when talking to people involved in the application process that it was the other way round, that $50K was the grant the NRL paid to the sucessful clubs

The $50k was the NRL guarantee insisted from everyone
 

AJB1102

First Grade
Messages
6,339
Governments are literally throwing money at women's sport right now.

Who at the NRL is liaising with governments to capitalise on this? Do any of them even know how to submit a grant application?

Spot on. They'd build a stadium on Mars and cover travel costs if AFLW needed it.

But seriously $1.5M to run a 4 week 4 team "comp"? Travel, accommodation and staff already paid, what the f**k? $50K entry fee seems absurd too.

All the clubs knew they had to fund their WNRL campaigns and the 4 successful clubs were the ones actually willing to put their hands in their pockets.

Cronulla had a $200K a year major sponsor onboard and had done the promo photos with giant cheque and everything expecting a side so they were definitely willing.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
Dragons and Warriors have gone public with their criticisms.

But it still begs the question, why did they fight for a position they can't afford to keep?
 

kbw

Bench
Messages
2,502
Spot on. They'd build a stadium on Mars and cover travel costs if AFLW needed it.

But seriously $1.5M to run a 4 week 4 team "comp"? Travel, accommodation and staff already paid, what the f**k? $50K entry fee seems absurd too.



Cronulla had a $200K a year major sponsor onboard and had done the promo photos with giant cheque and everything expecting a side so they were definitely willing.

Obviously they were not willing enough
 

kbw

Bench
Messages
2,502
No like Souths (but probably not as bad) they were unwilling to put in the money required. To be more precise they were unwilling to fund the costs for players that needed to be relocated.
They may well have had $200K in sponsorship but my guess given their financial position at the time not all of that was actually allocated to be spent on the WNRL team
 

kbw

Bench
Messages
2,502
To Cronulla's credit they have taken over Conulla-Carrinbah's Harvey Norman team and not just in a notional extent. From what I hear they are providing good resources and looking after them properly
 

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