NRL amassing war chest to win battle of the codes and take rugby league into new markets
Date
March 1, 2015 - 6:56PM
Steve Mascord
Rugby league columnist
When you appoint a banker as your CEO, you're not looking to become a charity. The NRL last week announced a $49.9 million surplus for 2014, an astonishing result for a sport that used to exist on cigarette advertising and pokies. Look for David Smith to continue to explore the opportunities to "buy back the farm", in similar deals to the touch football takeover, and to shamelessly prop up clubs that need it. A war chest is being amassed for the battle of the codes and taking the brand to offshore markets is clearly on the agenda. The next TV deal will be worth $2 billion and player recruitment overseas will increase, leaving Super League looking a bit like a feeder competition.
Spreading wings
It's been eight years since a new team was added to the NRL and you couldn't really call the Titans "expansion" because the game had already tried and failed on the tourist strip. The appointment of Shane Richardson seems certain to put the issue belatedly back on the agenda with a second Brisbane team and Perth appearing favourites, ahead of Wellington, Central Queensland and Port Moresby. We're also spreading our wings in regard to venues for our current program, with Napier (controversially) the latest city to be given a match. Sydney fans used to having the lion's share of games without actually going to them have had enough chances. It's the National Rugby League in name only that's about to change.
