Clubs hold IC to ransom

[Porthoz]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ns-future-of-nrl/story-e6frep5x-1226164289335

This is quite unexpected and by all means looks unreasonable, unless the last two paragraphs have substance to support them...

"In recent months, the major sticking point has been a push from the clubs for News Ltd to agree to a non-compete clause, which would prevent it from trying to form a breakaway competition.Yet there was no mention about that concern in Mr Pappas's email yesterday and the presumption was it is no longer a condition. In fact, there are fears within News Ltd and the ARL that the clubs could be in negotiations with another entity."

 

[Steve]

The whole thing is just incredibly disheartening. That money doesn't even yet exist - it will materialise when the new broadcast agreement is signed off next year.

I simply can't make heads or tails of what Pappas and the clubs are trying to achieve? Given he represents all of the clubs can I assume our club endorses the contents of the email?

Honestly our game just keeps finding new ways to shoot itself in the foot.

 

[Steve]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...for-better-deal-escalates-20111011-1ljc7.html

That makes it a bit clearer. If all 16 clubs are behind the push a breakaway competition surely isn't out of the question. Struggling to get my head around this.

 

[gUt]

Might help get this thing done finally.

 

[Burg]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ger-slice-of-the-140m-pie-20111012-1lk85.html
More on it here.

My first reactions was WTF!?!?!

But then after reading different reports and the fact that all the clubs (including ours), seem to be supporting this action you would think that there has to be more to it then meets the eye. Who knows what to believe.

A few things off the top of my head I would like to change if I was involved in running the game
1. Make it mandatory that all 20's players play at least 1 season in the state league before coming into first grade, why you ask when so many are instantly successful? Because it gives them a chance to develop their game and bolsters the local comp with future superstars. Fans can see these kids up close.
2. Day time Grand Final starting at 3pm, I just prefer it.
3. Get rid of the ARL and give more money to every club and make them responsible for key junior development areas, this includes country areas, grow the grass roots
4. Dictate to the TV stations which games are played on what night and release the season draw at the beginning of the season, stop pandering to them
5. Get the independent commission up and running so the clubs and hangers on have less of a say in the running and expansion of the game, it seems for too long peoples own agendas have taken precedence over the game as a whole. Whats good for the game, not whats good for Manly or St George etc..

I'm sure I can come up with a few more, but these are just a few.

 

[Kaz]

And The Courier-Mail can reveal four of those clubs - Cronulla, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and premiers Manly - are sweating on advance payments of $320,000 from their annual grant to avoid financial collapse.


http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/sign-or-lose-funding-nrl-clubs-told/story-e6frep5o-1226165328577

 

[Nashy]

I hope they don't get the advance. Stuff them. If you can't survive as a business on your own, you don't deserve to be in business.

 

[Charmamba]

Maybe change the thread title to something like "The NRL killing itself slowly"

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ceo-paul-osborne/story-e6frep5x-1226165332632

The NRL's wave of political in-fighting has spread to Parramatta, with revelations that major sponsor Pirtek campaigned to have CEO Paul Osborne dumped.
As Manly continues to suffer from internal bickering, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Glenn Duncan - who represents the Eels' major sponsor - resigned from the board on Monday night because of his opposition to Osborne continuing in the top job. Duncan has since confirmed Pirtek will honour its deal until the end of 2013, but is unhappy with Osborne's handling of finances and relationship management.

In that article.

Parramatta is currently on track to record a loss of around $2.5 million, but that's still considerably less than other Sydney rivals.

 

[Charmamba]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...-it-even-started/story-e6frep5x-1226165326095

Even if it did go so far, a rebel competition would effectively have been stillborn. The code's two most geographically vital clubs - Brisbane and Melbourne - could never support the concept because both clubs are controlled by News Limited.

Sydney clubs know they won't survive without Brisbane/Melbourne.

 

[Browny]

A rebel comp would need to poach alot of players from the nrl. The talent only just covers the 16 teams as it is

 

[mrslong]

It looks like it's the Sydney clubs that want to have a rebel comp. The ones that are still bitter about Super League. Lol.

 

[Nashy]

Let them go, and then when it fails, they don't get invites to the NRL unless they can prove a decent business plan and money in the bank. Not contracts for sponsors, but their own money.

 

[Charmamba]

Let them go, and then when it fails, they don't get invites to the NRL unless they can prove a decent business plan and money in the bank. Not contracts for sponsors, but their own money.

the NBL requires teams to have 10mil in the bank as backup funds, NRL should do the same but possibly a higher amount.

 

[Mister Wright]

Let these clubs go and start a rebel competition. Then invite licenses to 16 clubs, and they don't have to be the existing clubs. Each club has to fill a set criteria. Would be a good way to get rid of dead wood.

 

[Foordy]

The clubs demand for a raise in the grant is ridiculous IMO. Yes we are likely to have a much higher TV rights deal in 2013 (but remember until the contract is actually signed the amount remains speculation). but that is not for another year. they clubs are simply jumping the gun. Personally i hope the NRL do withhold the grant payments until they have signed a new contract, why give someone money if they possibly won't be with you during the upcoming season.

And spending all the money in the NRL's coffers won't do any good to anyone involved with the game. Not only will there be no money for the grass roots of the game (which if it isn't nurtured properly, the NRL will either be dead or severely weakened in 5-10 years), but it will effectively tie the new IC's hands and not allow them to do what needs to be done for league in Australia to allow it to continue to prosper.

 

[Steve]

The whole thing is a bloody mess. The game desperately needs a commission that can make decisions purely in the game's interests (not vested interest groups).

It's highly unlikely News Limited will cave and allow the Independent Commission to inherit a game in debt. Gallop was adamant that if a club finds itself in financial strife next year (one year from the start of the new broadcast agreement) that the NRL would be willing to assist. The fact that the clubs are holding their line despite Gallop's comments says to me they're taking the NRL for a ride.

Oh and the ARL has managed to piss away any credibility they had with this issue. Last week they opposed the concept of a loan but this week they suddenly support it. How about putting forward some of the $3 million you took from the game last year? Can't have it both ways you chumps.

I agree with John Quayle's comments yesterday: any money given to the clubs on top of the grant should be repaid. It's the game's money, not the clubs.

 

[Coxy]

Problem is the Sydney clubs feel they ARE the game, and they're entitled to be in the NRL. Worst thing is Quayle is one of the main one's guilty of promoting that attitude in the SL war and the lead up to it.

And then there's Souffs. "it doesn't matter how crap we are on and off the field, we have to be in the competition"

 

[Steve]

The NRL has been protecting Sydney clubs for so long though. I can see why too. The stupid pokies tax which nearly killed 2-3 clubs and now the new gambling policy that will no doubt have a big impact on clubs. They haven't had it easy.

However, I am of the belief that clubs should fend for themselves now, if you fold then too bad. This is a BUSINESS, no more bail outs. Find innocative ways to keep your club alive, get some rich businessman to buy the club, just do something if you want to remain in the comp. End of story. If that means goodbye to Sharks or Parramatta, then so be it.

That's the key point. If clubs keep coming back for handouts it's a disincentive for them to be innovative and find new revenue streams. It's not easy but clubs must find a way to stand on their own two feet. If they still aren't able to survive then that's saying something - i.e. the Sydney market is saturated with too many clubs.