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.
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.”
Rellum
Roar Guru
wasn't it Brothers Diehards or something
Rellum
Roar Guru
Here is a pre-Broncos team if you remember where you can see a prime Mal and Wally. This team won the mid week comp whilst dealing with two league games a week plus travel as at best semi professionals. They were a combined team and that is the talent it took to overcome the above obstacles. EDIT: Forgot to say the added difficultly and not practising or playing together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZBdaFDa3m0
Nat
Roar Guru
The old footage is sensational to revisit. Bennett from behind the posts. I reckon a lot of Canberra people would be shocked/impressed to see Mal's career before he went to the Raiders.
Nat
Roar Guru
Steady, 2017 BRL A grade Champions!! That was a good day at Bashup. As a stand-alone club back then, yes. I believe it was 88 was JV with Tweed, I remember the dual branded logo.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Was 79 your last in the top flight?
Rellum
Roar Guru
We played in every GF from 79 to 85 bar one. Big Mal played in I think 11 GFs in his 16 years of first grade. Bennett lost two GFs before he won his first in 85.
Rellum
Roar Guru
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCpsU9ygaFM7-XqKaSeSI31Q This is the channel to go to. Full replays of loads of old games. There is even suburban BRL from the 80's.
Nat
Roar Guru
I came across this guy doing league docos. They're not bad, vision quality isn't great but... There's one there about BRL in the 80s I watched yesterday and your boys get a solid run - 5GFs, they probably should. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTkZpEMMNI&list=PL0i5Xmyg-9AIYBmdjlzHD9dCOz5NP55gU
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
9 has full rights to talk about what they are getting and how that stacks up with what they have paid for, or will pay for. Absolutely.
Ed Jonauskis
Roar Rookie
A little bit of realism here, all the extra money seems to have gone to the players. That’s why clubs are struggling. There is no competition for athletes apart from Rugby Union (which nobodywatches). I don’t blame channel 9 for criticising a game that has overpaid its workers, I blame channel 9 for overpaying in the first place. The same thing is happening in European soccer, too much money for the functionaries. channel 9
Nick
Roar Guru
Why pay for a product that ceased to exist?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Actually didn't ch 9 a couple of weeks ago say they were not paying the next instalment of the tv contract even before the NRL announced this Apollo project? So why should they be consulted for something they are not interested in covering?
Nick
Roar Guru
You are being pretty condescending to sports cameraman. It's not as easy a job as you think
Davico
Roar Pro
My point was more that there would be many happy people who work in film and TV who would happily do it if the current camera operators would not.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ch9 is a dying animal trashing about.
Rellum
Roar Guru
TV sport camera operators sit well down the list compared to the the film industry operators. They are very different worlds though.
Davico
Roar Pro
This gets to the point actually. If they supply the product, Nine has to pay them. Nine does not want to pay as their advertising revenue is in the toilet so they can't afford to pay. Hence Nine throwing a tantrum!
Davico
Roar Pro
Pretty sure most people have Broadband these days!!
Davico
Roar Pro
There will be a line out the door or people willing to work the cameras for them if the current people pass. Films, TV shows etc have all been shut down. They may not be the top of the chain when it comes to sports filming but considering most in the Arts industry are casual or short contract employees who cannot claim the govt's JobSeeker payments I am pretty sure they would appreciate getting paid!
In brief
Guest
Couldn’t agree more - well said channel 9. Where did all the money go??