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New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,458
Can’t remember exactly but it’s around 95 million but that’s including npc and all blacks test matches. They were given 5 percent shares in sky nz too but those tanked in value

Nrl gets around 32 million in comparison from sky nz

Ok… assume the All Blacks games add a lot of value … even so I’m surprised at how close it is NRL v Super Rugby ratings … I also assumed that the
Super Rugby had some FTA Channel 9 like deal ( much lower scale obviously)
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,748
Ok… assume the All Blacks games add a lot of value … even so I’m surprised at how close it is NRL v Super Rugby ratings … I also assumed that the
Super Rugby had some FTA Channel 9 like deal ( much lower scale obviously)
A lot of the momentum for the warriors and league is post covid which at the same time js when union started to struggle with kiwis bored of the format of kiwi teams playing each other so much
 

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,129

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,129
NRL boss Andrew Abdo believes the Pacific Championships will grow into the “biggest sporting tournament in our region”, as international rugby league proves to be a ratings bonanza.

This masthead can reveal that all three Kangaroos matches out-rated the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks this year.

While Australia’s two clashes against Tonga, including Sunday’s final, attracted a total of 2 million viewers across free-to-air and Fox Sports, overall ratings were also up 13.5 per cent on last year’s tournament.

“We’re seeing a great response from the fans through attendance and viewership. With a meaningful calendar and some consistency, this is something I think can grow into the biggest sporting tournament in our region,” NRL chief executive Abdo said.

“To get over a million people watching consistently shows it can be a big part of our calendar.

“We also had hundreds of thousands of people streaming it in Papua New Guinea.”

Abdo said the governing body was committed to playing the three-week championships after the NRL grand final after scrapping mid-season Test matches in 2022.

“It is in the right place, playing rugby league in late October early November is the sweet spot,” Abdo said.

“The beauty is, there is not too much other sport. It’s a chance for us to really own this period and win over new fans across the region.

Australia will tour England in 2025 with Samoa to replace the Kangaroos in the Championships. It is anticipated that a clash between Tonga and Samoa, who also have a large community in western Sydney, would draw a crowd of 50,000 people - the biggest Test crowd in Australia in almost 50 years.

It’s understood New Zealand will host both of their Test matches against island nations next year.

It’s understood New Zealand will host both of their Test matches against island nations next year.

The success of the Pacific Championships has also once again raised the possibility of a Pasifika NRL team as part of the game’s plans to expand to a 20-team competition.

Perth and PNG are set to be introduced in 2027 and 2028, respectively, as the 18th and 19th teams, while New Zealand and a fifth team in Queensland are options for further expansion.

But some of the NRL’s biggest Pacific Islander stars like Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo have backed the introduction of a Pasifika outfit.

Abdo said the game’s expansion strategy favoured franchises that had a home base rather than one that represented a geographical region.

“It’s a decision that would have to be carefully considered by the Commission,” Abdo said.

“There is real strength in a franchise being clear about its identity and its home, real strength in having a home stadium and centre of excellence as a opposed to a travelling connection of different regions.”

But the NRL will consider taking more games to island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

“We want to reach as many people as possible,” Abdo said.

“Our region is important to us, we want the game to grow in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and PNG. So we have a top to bottom strategy from getting kids to play to taking elite games there. But we can’t be taking one-off games into the region, we want to connect with those communities.”

Pacific Islander communities in Australia are also vital to the game’s growth into the future. Over 45 per cent of NRL players are now of Pacific Islander or Maori decent.

Abdo believes that diversity, which was on full-display in the stands of CommBank Stadium on Sunday, sets rugby league apart from other sports in the country.

“The celebration of the different cultures in the NRL and NRLW, it happens in such a moving way,” Abdo said.

“The singing and the celebrations, the uniqueness of the cultural performances … it was a sea of red and white, it felt like a Tongan home game. Everyone, regardless of the country they were supporting, was enjoying the football.”

I posted this on the pacific cup threads. You can see the nrls focus on dominating areas which were all union strongholds
"There is real strength in a franchise being clear about its identity and its home, real strength in having a home stadium and centre of excellence as a opposed to a travelling connection of different regions.”

wasn't it the south island bid with a new stadium and planned centre of excellence?
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,748
"There is real strength in a franchise being clear about its identity and its home, real strength in having a home stadium and centre of excellence as a opposed to a travelling connection of different regions.”

wasn't it the south island bid with a new stadium and planned centre of excellence?
Yeh but he was talking there against a pacificka team which shares games with Samoa Tonga and Fiji
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,598
Can’t remember exactly but it’s around 95 million but that’s including npc and all blacks test matches. They were given 5 percent shares in sky nz too but those tanked in value

Nrl gets around 32 million in comparison from sky nz
Rumoured (not confirmed) $80mill per year, up from $70mill per year the previous deal. Runs till end of 2025.
Sky NZ mark value is around $400mil so the 5% share is worth around $20mill on top of the tv deal.

In their 2023 annual report they have media income at $86mill. Hosting a RUWC is worth about $18mill extra in media rights to them.
 
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Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
826

taste2taste

Juniors
Messages
2,472
TIME TO TACKLE ALL BLACKS

Peter Jenkins
The NRL can topple the All Blacks as the dominant force in New Zealand sport by fast-tracking a second team into the Shaky Isles.
The call comes from two high-profile Kiwi administrators with extensive experience in both codes who sense a seismic shift in the escalating war for hearts, minds and talent.
David Moffett, who headed up NZ Rugby, NSW Rugby, Welsh Rugby, Sport England and the NRL during the 1990s and early 2000s, told the Daily Telegraph that rugby union in NZ was no longer impregnable against the rising threat of rugby league.
His view was shared by Trevor McKewen, an ex-commercial and marketing boss at NZ Rugby, former Warriors CEO and a current media identity who said the NRL should act quickly to launch sport’s ultimate palace coup.
“I’ve never seen NZ Rugby face an existential crisis like this,” McKewen said last night. “I’ve never seen the game in a more vulnerable state.
“This perfect storm has arrived. NZ Rugby has significant financial woes and it has a governance structure a review has found as not fit for purpose.
“On top of that, the NRL is building a huge following in NZ and the talented 15-year-olds who once only thought of playing for the All Blacks are now playing both codes. They’re watching NRL and seeing the opportunities.
“NZ Rugby has always sold this narrative that the ABs are the greatest team in the history of sport. That’s now a myth … the allure of the All Blacks jersey is nowhere near as strong as it has been historically.
“The NRL can capitalise on that momentum with a second team here. They just need to appreciate the opportunity that exists. Don’t wait five or more years. Grab it by the throat now.
“With a second team the NRL will have games in NZ every week for seven months. That visibility and accessibility will have a massive impact.
“Super Rugby has lost its way and the All Blacks play at home five or six times a year. The NRL would have a constant presence driving talkability, coverage and participation, all key measures for popularity.”
Moffett is CEO at the South Island Kea consortium that is bidding for inclusion to the NRL as part of the competition’s proposed expansion.
After a recent rejection, Moffett has called for a meeting with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to work through the NRL’s bid requirements.
From his Christchurch base, Moffett said teams on both islands would deliver an instant national rivalry and significantly more content in NZ, and the sooner the better to take advantage of the All Blacks’ declining fortunes.
“The All Blacks have been the beacon of NZ sport for more than a century,” he said. “But there are now cracks in the wall.”
New Zealand has lost its last four Tests to South Africa, three of its last six to Ireland and its two most recent Tests against France. The All Blacks have also lost two of their last six Tests against Argentina.
Their most notable winning record is against the Wallabies – nine Test victories in a row.
What does McKewen mean by this, I thought NZRU was awash with cash after selling to private equity?

“NZ Rugby has significant financial woes and it has a governance structure a review has found as not fit for purpose”
 

Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
826
What does McKewen mean by this, I thought NZRU was awash with cash after selling to private equity?

“NZ Rugby has significant financial woes and it has a governance structure a review has found as not fit for purpose”
Curious what his thoughts of the NZRL is in comparison…
 

Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
826
Ok… assume the All Blacks games add a lot of value … even so I’m surprised at how close it is NRL v Super Rugby ratings … I also assumed that the
Super Rugby had some FTA Channel 9 like deal ( much lower scale obviously)
Unless it’s changed recently, FTA games used to be delayed signify rather than live.
Without Sky it Made a tough day of work on Monday when the Sunday games were played on Prime (now sky open) at close to midnight.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,598
What does McKewen mean by this, I thought NZRU was awash with cash after selling to private equity?

“NZ Rugby has significant financial woes and it has a governance structure a review has found as not fit for purpose”
NZRU
Last year $227mill revenue
$8.9mill loss

The are carrying a lot of debt (not sure if this is tied as a liability to the investment?) and only have $8.4mill equity.

NZRL

revenue $12.1mill
$0.5mill loss
Equity $2.9mill

NZ total RL players 28k. (up around 17%) youth 7.7k
 
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Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,748
It looks like they have invested it in term investments, and are carrying it on the books as liability.
It said the money would all be gone by 2031 if they don’t change their situation

They pay silver lake 10.5 million pa in interest
 

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