It would ,make sense for fox to start simulcasting in 2016 if they do a new deal. Anything is possible I guess long way from 2018. Wonder if Dave Smith will stick around?
ARL chairman John Grant's fallout with Dave Smith has NRL clubs jittery
Oh no! On the eve of the NRL finals series come disturbing reports that ARL Commission chairman
John Grant is losing faith in chief executive
Dave Smith.
They believe Grant – a passionate Queenslander who wears his maroon scarf with pride at Origin matches – is more than prepared to let some Sydney clubs wither on the vine. The clubs believe he considers them a "source of annoyance". Ugly stuff.
The talk about the chairman not being happy with his chief executive has been buzzing about for months, as drama after drama in Club Land is played out in the daily press.
Grant went so far as to contact NRL bosses personally about signing competition agreements, which sent the message to others that he isn't convinced Smith is getting the job done.
This column was given an indication of the unrest a fortnight ago when Smith pulled out of a one-on-one interview at the 11th hour, with no explanation.
The interview was supposed to be a chance for Smith to clear the air on issues such as the confusing broadcast deal with Channel Nine, the future of embattled clubs like the NRL-controlled Wests Tigers, and speculation he will collect a fat bonus in the next year before exiting through the backdoor.
An apologetic Smith won't tell me why he aborted the interview so abruptly, but the strong suspicion is the ARL Commission – which met that day – had gagged him. He'd already said too much after the Nine deal was struck.
Smith and Grant were contacted for comment through the NRL media department, which never got back to us.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...th-has-nrl-clubs-jittery-20150910-gjjbpk.html
