https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...s/news-story/19748f7d7432b760b64de9dac7d8596b
NRL ready to use soaring ratings as launch pad for broadcast talks
NRL acting CEO Andrew Abdo is keen to talk to the Nine Network again.
When ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys sat down with Nine Network boss Hugh Marks not so long ago to discuss an extension to their existing agreement, the broadcaster demanded more entertainment. Well Hugh, are you entertained?
Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters put together the game of the season on Thursday night. Some have suggested it may have been the greatest regular season game in recent history. Ratings have soared since the NRL returned from its COVID-19 shutdown and rugby league is suddenly in a position of strength.
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Not surprisingly, there is now talk that they will sit down with Nine again in coming weeks to reopen talks about extending their existing deal, which runs until the end of 2022.
This was exactly what V’landys and his fellow commissioners envisaged when they brought in rule changes designed to speed up the game and remove the wrestle.
“I promised the broadcasters we would make it more entertaining,” V’landys said. “That was a great game – one of the best games I have ever seen. We wanted to make the game more free flowing and get rid of the wrestle. And we will keep making changes.
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“I think it is better. There is more fatigue. It is more entertaining. You can’t say it is not more entertaining.”
Hard to argue as the Roosters and Storm produced yet another classic. The game attracted 910,000 viewers overall – 644,000 on Nine and 266,000 on Fox League. The corresponding AFL game between Carlton and St Kilda had 892,000 viewers, giving rugby league a resounding victory.
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NRL: The Melbourne Storm edged past the Sydney Roosters 27-25 in a golden point thriller at Suncorp Stadium.
Ratings on Fox League this year have skyrocketed since the game returned from the enforced break. They were up 16 per cent heading into round seven on the back of rule changes.
While Foxtel struck an extension that guarantees they will retain a share of rugby league until the end of 2027, Marks needed to be convinced the code was heading in the right direction. Hopefully he tuned in Thursday night.
“We certainly both agreed to get back together in the next couple of weeks,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“There is certainly an appetite on both parties to sit down and work out an extension. That is an important part for us because it lays the foundation for certainty that we can plan around.
“We still have a long way to go. There is still 12 and a bit rounds to go. We need to be very vigilant and mindful of the fact we still have a pandemic and the situation in Victoria.
“But we are certainly very pleased with the way everyone has worked together to make it happen.”
Even the spectre of controversy and some injury scares couldn’t take the gloss off a memorable night in Brisbane.
Roosters fans flooded social media to complain about an apparent Brandon Smith knock-on in the lead-up to the game-winning penalty goal, kicked by Storm skipper Cameron Smith in golden point extra time.
Having reviewed footage of the incident from a host of angles, NRL head of football Graham Annesley refused to be critical of referee Ashley Klein.
“It is extremely difficult to tell whether it was or wasn’t (a knock-on),” Annesley said.
“I am not going to hang someone for something when I am not sure that it was a mistake.”
The Roosters’ disappointment was compounded by more injury concerns. They could now be without winger Daniel Tupou for an extended period after he left the field late in the game with an ankle problem, although coach Trent Robinson has the ability to call on England international Ryan Hall.
The Roosters confirmed Tupou had sustained a syndesmosis injury and would see a specialist over the weekend to determine the next steps in recovery. The club is already without Victor Radley and Sam Verrills for the rest of the season after both suffered knee injuries in round six.
Captain Boyd Cordner and forwards Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins will be monitored this week after leaving Thursday night’s game with head knocks.
The NRL, meanwhile, was giddy with excitement after a game that had the rugby league community in raptures.
“You think about it, everything worked,” Abdo said. “We had two teams slugging it out, you had not a lot of penalties, you had plenty of tries and a high-scoring game.”
Brent Read
Senior Sports Writer
