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Nine blasts NRL management in extraordinary statement

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The Nine Network has accused the NRL of mismanagement ahead of the league’s plans to resume its competition that was halted by the coronavirus.

The Nine Network has launched a scathing attack on the NRL, accusing the league of mismanagement and breaking its lucrative broadcast deal.

The statement comes on the same day league central is expected to announce plans to resume its competition halted by the coronavirus.

It’s understood the network is furious with being left out of discussions on what the season would look like should it recommence.

The free-to-air broadcaster took aim at NRL’s financial management, which has left clubs and players facing uncertain futures.

“At Nine we had hoped to work with the NRL on a solution to the issues facing rugby league in 2020, brought on so starkly by COVID-19,” the statement read.

“But this health crisis in our community has highlighted the mismanagement of the code over many years.”

The comments also come after weeks of speculation surrounding the future of current NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.

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Greenberg is currently in the final year of his contract.

“Nine has invested hundreds of millions in this game over decades and we now find they have profoundly wasted those funds with very little to fall back on to support the clubs, the players and supporters,” the statement continued.

“In the past the NRL have had problems and we’ve bailed them out many times, including a $50m loan to support clubs when the last contract was signed.

“It would now appear that much of that has been squandered by a bloated head office completely ignoring the needs of the clubs, players and supporters.

“We now find ourselves with a contract that is unfulfilled by the code. We hoped we could talk through a long-term plan.”

© AAP

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