NRL chief executive David Smith, at a meeting of rugby league stakeholders on Monday, made his intentions for the code clear, declaring that rugby league will be the biggest sport in the country in five years’ time.
For those who have lamented the NRL’s lack of planning and ambition, it was a welcome change to hear the rugby league head honcho being quite bullish when discussing the future of the code.
Smith’s optimism stems from extremely impressive financial figures, which were detailed by Brad Walters in Tuesday’s Sydney Morning Herald.
The numbers include a $49.4 million profit for the NRL during Smith’s first year in the job, with broadcast revenue worth a whopping $221.3 million.
Smith indicated he would like to see the NRL’s other revenue sources match that figure by 2018, meaning a substantial increase in sponsorship, gate receipts and club members.
Specifically, by 2017, Smith wants sponsorship to increase from $20.6 million to $36 million, gate receipts to increase from $32 million to $62 million, and NRL members to double to 400,000, which would bring in an extra $50 million.
Big numbers indeed.
Though Smith never mentioned the AFL, his intent is clear for all to see: for the NRL to be the number one football code – if not sport – in the country.
“We’ve got a good story to tell about rugby league and it is a story we think sits as well in the business section as the sports pages. Many of you have heard before that rugby league is a big enterprise so we need to think big.
“Wind the clock forward five years and we will be the biggest sporting community in Australia, we will have hopefully gone through the next [broadcast] rights deal and seen a big uptake in the value of our rights and we will have more people playing the game, more fans watching the game and better stadiums.”
Smith signaled the war chest of funds would be used to grow the game, with expansion plans back on the table, along with a proposed second-tier competition that would bring the NSW and Queensland Cups under the NRL flag, with the winners of the two competitions facing off on NRL grand final day.
Though we’ve heard impressive numbers tabulated before, along with countless promises of ‘growing the game’, this is the first time we’ve heard such aggressive objectives, with specific timelines.
Smith’s speech was obviously tailored to his audience, yet it’s clearly evident he has big plans for the NRL and wasn’t afraid to discuss them.
For too long, rugby league has been somewhat the laughing stock of Australian sport when it comes to how the game is run. That perception is harsh, yet not totally unjustified.
Whether it was the Super League war, off-field incidents, the Sydney-centric media, poorly-run clubs or simply a failure to fully captilise on the strength of the game, there has always been the opinion that rugby league consistently shoots itself in the foot.
Additionally, the code has also been accused in the past of lacking direction and a strategic plan.
Yet now, with a great product, strong financial numbers and what appears like even stronger leadership, the game is poised to fully captilise on its popularity.
And it seems like Smith isn’t shy of aiming high.
Xman
Guest
The Vichy are still running France
Xman
Guest
Perhaps the 3K in the crowd were measured like the Warriors and Titans where season ticket holders are counted even when they dont turn up
Xman
Guest
I am glad you spot irony sorry miss irony but in the finals for 10 years and 3 premierships
Xman
Guest
No they count Oztag and touch players now so it is expanding!!!
Xman
Guest
Wow Williams was in the middle of negotiating and he downplayed the outcome - amazing
Conmab
Guest
I think O'Neill was taliking about RU being No 2 in most States because of 5 Super 15 sides while RL didnt expand - I think you are verballing him Fitzy was wrong so what Dave Smith and Gallop have made mistakes and told half truths - its the way of the world
The Voice of Reason
Guest
Entirely different games? Quote: "Oztag is a non-tackling version of rugby league." http://www.oztag.com.au/index.php?page=5398
Xman
Guest
You wrote "With all the Buddy promotion and the highly visible Swans playing ,with many Swans fans from Castle Hill and surrounds ,and of course two Sydney(sic) teams involved,the crowd was not overstated but poor." Repeat after me Swans played West Coast Eagles at Blacktown - not East Coast eagles so there wont be 2 local teams involved on a wet night in WS. Read what you write...
Xman
Guest
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/nrl-returns-to-4bc-20140306-349xf.html The NRL can leverage of radio rights for better pres any day esp for a newspaper and radio network which is struggling So you go to melbourne everyday but live in Sydney - interesting
Xman
Guest
James Hird played RL at school because thats all his school played - do you own him too??? You say there is no mention of RL in RU backgrounds. Thousands of kids have played both and end up going one way or the other - so what. Most recent example Alofa Alofa starred for the Waratahs and was headlined as a former under 20 Roosters player, - headlined - did you not see that?? The RL is playing a nice apprenticeship school for RU players in under 20 for NZRU and Aussie RU players like Alofa who dont get a Super 15 contract - Some stay - some go back / The Storm had a lot of NZ RU players on their books years ago but referred to their local club by name and no mention of RU. This had changed last year but still
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The Storm have 10 premierships???? I must be living in another country ,the Crimea perchance. As John McEnroe would oft say plus the usual profanity "you can't be serious".
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Hubris you want hubris ,I will give you hubris. Who was it that stated In Brief circa 2002,that rugby league would be relegated to 2nd position in the states of NSw and Queensland,and would be further down the scale in the southern states and rugby union would take up their position? 4 choices: Demetriou;Frank Lowy,David Gallop ,John O'Neill. Lock in John O'Neill Eddie.. Who was it that stated circa 2000 the Storm would not survive in Melbourne in 5 years,then years later stated they would collapse when the Rebels came in? 4 choices. Demeriou,John O'Neill,Patrick Smith,Peter Fitzsimons(rugby tragic) Lock in Peter Fitzsimons Eddie. We know exactly who and what came back to bite them on the rear ends. I could provide many more but two should suffice for now.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And my point there was little or no reference to these guys playing junior rl ,by the ru journos ,which shows the opposite happens. It's not alone way traffic.And the cricket comment etc is nonsense The guys mentioned played junior rl ,and could only play ru at High school because that's the only rugby code offered there..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You have despite your ravings,not provided one cm of proof the NRL pays Fairfax for good new stories.A statement you clearly made.then once more I ask back it up with proof.I am still waiting.............. Not some scheduling stuff up,which has zilch to do with your payment claim. One minute you, under one of your other aliases were quite happy to suggest News always printed good news rl stories.Now when they rip into rugby league ,you are quite happy to cite a negative press.Which does not one iota prove,suggest or provide evidence the NRL pays anybody.Pay for ads yes. Think you need to look at Fairfax balance sheets of late.Apparently I read the Age on line,apparently I may visist Melbourne,apparently I am capable of watching Sky News or Foxsport News .It's apparently,apparent. Swans mix up!!! What are you on about?? if you are referring to a prior post ,I stated the home ground of the new team jeez!!!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Been to Melbourne,capable of picking up and buying a newspaper in any city I visit.That is an objective rant.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Then you better have a long chat with the Blacktown council ,and the former mayor removed from office.They allocated the ground and contributed monies on the expectation of long term and regular usage. Reminds me of the song "Money for nothing". If it was never going to be the home ground or at least used more often and players living in the precinct ,they sure as hell conned the council I happen to know the capacity of that ground ,it happens to be public knowledge me lad.Where in God's name did I suggest it was the Swan's home ground FHS?.I clearly stated the home of the new team.Please read and not put your words in place. My post was simply to state the swans have or did have strong support form the areas around castle Hill,Buddy Boy was on show and the ground was supposedly GWS's.The crowd and it was clear as Dolly Parton's cleavage was nowhere near 1/3 capacity of the 10,000 ground. So you stated they moved closer to Concord because that was west Sydney .what the!!. The west Tigers encompasses and plays at Campbelltown,Leichhardt and ANZ.With Campbelltown that is more like West Sydney than Canberra. Do you understand Campbelltown is part of the tigers area?You need to study up.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Really? Then please provide your evidence to support that "point". The two clubs you mentioned rate like dogs on FTA in the northern states,so I suggest they(NRL) hardly feel threatened seeing their games are on Pay TV not FTA.
Xman
Guest
Explain then when the RL printed a draw with a game at Canberra Stadium for a Cowboys game when the Brumbies had a game there already, News Corp went to town and Fairfax buried it as a venue change in the last para of a story 3 days later...It didn't make the Canberra times even (another Fairfax paper), Their circulation is falling but you still read the Age online apparently and half the popn read their newspapers in coffee shops... Still waiting for an explanation of the Swans mixup above
Xman
Guest
Their junior coach was implicated on page 3 of the Sunday telegraph of antics for which your post was deleted...
Xman
Guest
Its all about keeping the AFL in the public eye in the NRL launch week - hence the herald Sun breaking the Essendon story - why now!!!