NRL faces major turmoil as clubs threaten breakaway league

[insert.pause]

The game is crippled by indecision, to have made zero progress and to have actually gone backwards in twelve months is embarrassing leadership.

 

[some11]

So basically mirroring federal politics.

Who will stand up to make the NRL great again?

 

[hineyrulz]

That could just mean that most AFL players are underpaid as well.

And underfed.

 

[hineyrulz]

Name me a business of the size of the NRL that doesn't even have a financial plan in place 12 months out?? The game is a rudderless joke atm. They spend 3 weeks in England only to come back and renege on a 12 month deal while clubs are trying to sort out their caps for 2018. You can't make this shit up.

 

[Perth Red]

I guess it is hard to agree to 30% over the cap without actually determining what the cap,will be from 2018-2023. Clubs have been given a $1.5mill a year bonus this year and next. I would,think the next negotiatiations are with the rlpa to,sort the cap levels out then they can sort out the Grant amount with clubs.

If they have gone back on this announcement from 12 months ago though I can see why clubs would be peeved


Key elements of the funding agreement include payments to clubs of $1.5m each year from 2016 to 2022 to be directed to improving their operational capability and to driving commercial revenues, and a grant of 130% of total player payments from 2018 – 2022.
The ARLC and clubs will now sign a Memorandum of Understanding while the agreement is formalised.
From 2018, the deal will deliver more than $100 million extra per year to the 16 clubs until 2022
Mr Campbell said the 16 NRL clubs were now in a position to invest off the field to build their capacity and capability and to become stronger and more professional than ever before.
"This agreement is a very significant milestone for the game of rugby league," he said.
"It has been reached after a robust but collaborative process that maintained a clear focus on ensuring the Clubs can be financially strong in the short to medium term and that investment can be directed to grow the game over the long term.
"The clubs and the Commission are now entirely aligned and our fans and sponsors can get behind their club


http://www.nrl.com/nrl-club-funding-agreement/tabid/10874/newsid/91081/default.aspx

 

[Perth Red]

Bring back Dave Smith, make NRL great again!

 

[Perth Red]

Is this the end for Grant?


Rugby league is facing its biggest crisis since the Super League war and only the resignation of commission chairman John Grant is likely to solve it.
A source told The Daily Telegraph that only the resignation of Grant “as a circuit breaker” could solve a row that could potentially cripple the game.

“He looked us in the eye last year and promised our future grants would be 30 per cent more than the salary cap,” one club official said. “Now he’s reneged.”

Late on Wednesday a number of clubs were in discussions about calling an emergency meeting of all stakeholders to issue a no-confidence vote in the commission chairman.
“We met today. Nothing was agreed. The clubs and state leagues remain united on the best way forward. We are considering our next steps and will meet again shortly.”

It will be the meeting that could determine Grant’s future.

While the threat of another Super League remains highly unlikely, the code is fast becoming an embarrassment among stakeholders and corporates with such an uncertain future.

“The game did a $1.8 billion broadcast deal 12 months ago yet the players and the clubs still have absolutely no idea where it is to be spent,” one chairman said.

“That’s 70 per cent more than the previous deal. What are they doing with all the money?”

The biggest threat to the NRL is now the likelihood of the Rugby League Players Association forming a partnership with the 16 clubs in a double-barrel attack to get their share of the funding.

Players Association chief executive Ian Prendergast has met with club bosses in recent weeks to plan their line of attack.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/nr...r/news-story/c80a88cf56b9afb4c56f8677934979eb

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

To commit to something the clubs then rely on to plan the future cap and player rosters and then renege on is the absolute Height of un professionalism

I would imagine the thing the ARLC is worried about is the grant being 130% of the salary cap. Basically this wouldnt effect the clubs structuring of players salaries, just the budgets for the rest of the clubs...

And forcing clubs to tighten their belts and either spend within their own capacity or make more money on their own, isnt a terrible idea (though obviously the clubs wont be too happy).

But the ARLC could then ask for specific proposals and use the money saved on initiatives the clubs want. The clubs would just need to justify it...

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

“He looked us in the eye last year and promised our future grants would be 30 per cent more than the salary cap,” one club official said. “Now he’s reneged.”

 

[themacemaceman]

I don't understand the suggested $300k per team to the sinking fund to prop up struggling clubs.
Why wouldn't the NRL just give the clubs $300k less per team?
After all the majority of the clubs income is a handout from the NRL.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Doing some rough numbers here.. say salary cap starting out at $10Mil come 2018 +30% buffer is
$13Mil per club X 16 clubs = $208M per year

Revenue is going to be north of $500M so even with the mooted $100Mil a year spend on player/junior development the NRL administration will still be able to blow the remaining $200Mil a year in style...

 

[Canard]

The clubs can't vote out the chairman can they? As in they don't have enough votes to do so?

Otherwise how is it "independent"?

 

[Frailty]

Good work NRL. You know you've f**ked it when Clubs and Players Association look like they both agree you're shit.

.. Fans have known for a while now.

 

[Frailty]

The clubs can't vote out the chairman can they? As in they don't have enough votes to do so?

Otherwise how is it "independent"?

From an article I was reading they can, but NSWRL and QRL have a vote, and the chairman only needs 4 votes to survive. Realistically he only gets kicked out of the job if virtually every club and wants him out. Given the NRL own a few clubs, it's unlikely.

 

[insert.pause]

The clubs can't vote out the chairman can they? As in they don't have enough votes to do so?

Otherwise how is it "independent"?

They can, they do & I think they will. They need 10 clubs as well as the QRL & NSWRL, the only question mark would be the QRL. Betros was with the chairman at the pub...

Problem is, if they get rid of Grant he will only be replaced by the commission anyway, so it would only really be a symbolic gesture by the clubs. They would need constitutional change and with the NRL controlling three clubs and another in administration, they don't have the numbers needed.

Grant has made a rod for his own back, with no ceo, he got panicked into a deal with the clubs by newscorp pressure around the rights negotiations and threats to his own position, BEFORE A NEW CBA, and now a year later negative progress has been made and the game continues in stasis. Add that to the broadcast deal mess, the saga that became greenberg's inevitable appointment & the pathways review of the review, and it shows a district lack of leadership.

He is going to either have to cave quick smart, resign, or be removed. He has no hands left to play if rumours of the RLPA joining forces with the clubs is to be believed. Either he was panicked into a club funding deal before a new CBA or he did the deal ignorant of the need for a CBA first, for someone who is a zealot to 'process' it is unfathomable that we are back to where we were 12 months ago.

 

[undertaker]

Name me a business of the size of the NRL that doesn't even have a financial plan in place 12 months out?? The game is a rudderless joke atm. They spend 3 weeks in England only to come back and renege on a 12 month deal while clubs are trying to sort out their caps for 2018. You can't make this shit up.

Wasn't the independent commission going to give the fans back the game they deserved, such as the likes of Gus Gould were crapping on about during 2010-12? The ARLC has simply become News Ltd, just under a different guise. Greenburg and Grant would make very good politicians.

 

[T-Boon]

The commission wants to try to do things that are for the greater good of the game but the clubs aren't really interested in that they are only interested in their own good.
The NRL propose expansion but the clubs ask "what is in that for us?" We need a commission that can actually answer that question and get the clubs excited about growing the game. It is not going to be easy because the clubs are run by old rugby league idiots.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The commission wants to try to do things that are for the greater good of the game but the clubs aren't really interested in that they are only interested in their own good.
The NRL propose expansion but the clubs ask "what is in that for us?" We need a commission that can actually answer that question and get the clubs excited about growing the game. It is not going to be easy because the clubs are run by old rugby league idiots.

The clubs only care about themselves, but its ridiculous that this hasn't been sorted out yet... The TV deal was done a year ago! I suspect that there are idiots running the NRL as well...

As I said above, I don't see the problem with the 30% buffer/grant above the salary cap.. there still seems to be plenty of money to go around...

The NRL need to get a bit smarter when they finalise this next deal with the clubs.. there has to be a trade off that expansion has to occur in time for the next TV deal as part of giving the clubs what they want this time...

 

[Big Salad]

Latest update - all 16 clubs have signed a letter indicating no confidence in John Grant and calling on him to resign.

 

[adamkungl]

Can anyone copy the DT article?