The NRL holds hope of finalising talks with broadcasters this week in order to give clubs a better picture of what the restructured 2020 season will look like.
Peter V’landys hopes a deal can be struck with broadcasters to unlock the details around the NRL’s return by the end of the week, but admits it will be a challenge.
Wednesday shapes as the biggest day of meetings for the game during the coronavirus pandemic, when ARL Commission chairman V’landys again speaks with Nine and Fox Sports about the code’s planned return on May 28.
The broadcasters will have a key say in the structure of the season, as well as the new financial value of each round.
According to the Herald, the NRL is looking to finalise a deal with the broadcasters until 2025 that will be less than the $325 million per year they plough into the game.
The NRL is confident of dealing with the loss in revenue streams for 2023, 2024 and 2025 by trimming costs.
FoxSports and Nine, which is also publisher of the Herald, agreed to pay $1.8 billion from 2018 to 2022 but are renegotiating after the pandemic shut down the game.
The plan is to move towards a similar decentralised governance model like the English Premier League, with clubs still receiving $13 million each year even if broadcast revenues fall or the salary cap is slashed.
Discussions over simulcast and exclusive games between the two networks are also expected to form part of that, as well as any changes to the weekend’s schedule.
“We’re trying our best to finalise all the broadcast things this week, and that’s optimistic,” V’landys told AAP.
“Because they are very complicated. And you have two partners, not just one. And you’ve got to work between the two of them.
“But they are certainly progressing. There are meetings every day. It’s not an easy progress. But we will get there.”
Reaching a deal with broadcasters will give the NRL a clearer picture about the competition’s structure, schedule and the placement of State of Origin.
The Apollo Committee will meet to discuss the practicalities around team training and health, after the biosecurity measures were presented to the commission on Tuesday.
Those measures are also expected to be shown to the players and clubs on Wednesday afternoon, as they move closer towards a return to training in coming weeks.
Likewise, it will give clarity to a number of clubs.
All three Queensland franchises will likely go into camp in NSW, while Melbourne could join them dependent on the Victorian government’s measures.
The NRL must still decide if families will be put up alongside the players, and what other support will be in place.
More pressing is the fate of the Warriors, who are waiting on further details from the league before flying to Australia.
While still awaiting an exemption to arrive in the country from New Zealand, the Warriors have also asked questions over player remuneration and medical and family support
“We’ve got to do some more work on (the Warriors),” V’landys said.
“That’s going through all the process at the moment with the government approvals as well.”
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Also, Crosscoder, the AFL does not have the benefit of clubs being privately owned like NRL & relies much more financially on attendances & membership. Despite Eddie's outburst, there has not been a run on members wanting refunds so far - but when knows what 2021 will be like.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And Qld and NZ to get players here Gyfox.The NRL is played also in another country. The NRL is not just girt by sea.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well Gyfox channel 7 has real financial issues, so I wouldn't be counting on too much. In addition Virgin (sponsor)going into administration and owing $6.8bn is not going to help AFL coffers.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It's May the 28th ,unless unforeseen circumstances intervene. ScoMo has given the go ahead for pro sport, community sport . Just a matter of 9 and Fox agreeing to the season length.Not a case of what the public wants ,the sport has to look after its very existence.As will other sports affected. They will follow strict stick health requirements laid down,in consultation with Governments. Other sports you can bet ,will follow soon after, and you can expect the usual silence hollering against that decision.
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
I agree with your date being the best starting date. It allows for all sorts of timely events to occur. Public acceptance and not just Rugby League tragics. A good pre season followed by 15 rounds, finals, a one week break and then 3 SOO games. All of this will give the greatest possibility of crowds later in the season with an early December finish. NRL should accept the inevitable that there has to be and will be "haircuts". Accept that and then "rip the bandage off" and move on.
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
My apologies William, what i meant to write was that the Bundesliga is set to resume early May with the proposed date being May 9. All the other competitions sometime later. Of course the NFL is due and more than likely to resume in September as is normal.
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
Poorly written by me.........Bundesliga set to resume on May 9 not 5 and others in sometime later but probably June onwards.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Walter, you make good points, but the David Smith one ain't one of them. He is the worst just after David Moffatt. I'd rather Gallop back working in tandem with Vlandys rather than that Welsh rugby trojan horse.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Looks like our prolonged state of boredom may be soon over mate.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
News today that an AFL hub could be in Sydney now that NSW govt has given green-light to NRL. Would give Swans & Giants a head start.....& Eddie doesn't like it :-) And just heard in the news that the CMO says sport could possible start in 2-3 weeks. AFL & FFA still have to deal with the states, tho. Lucky NRL only having to get NSW on side.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
So the NFL, which doesn’t start until September, is planning to restart their yet to begin season on May 5?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Agreed. The NRLs lack of vision actually works in its favour in this case.
Walter Black
Guest
ESL restart on 5th May was set as a target on 4th April but has since been pushed back twice. With new case numbers in Britain increasing at the rate of 5000 a day, I cannot see how any uk sport can predict a date yet. I suspect the same is true of European sport but I haven't seen anything.
Walter Black
Guest
Peter, The English Superleague has its regular season planned as we do with matches every week for every team upto the Grand Final. There is a break for the Challenge Cup Final. If any match gets postponed for any reason then that match has to get caught up often by playing Friday, Wednesday, Monday - effectively twice in one week. Reasons why matches get postponed include - Team played in the WCC - happens every year and impacts 2 teams - Team goes deep into the Challenge Cup Competition - happens most years if not all - can affect 2-8 teams - Weather - example flooded pitch at Wakefield this year If you take a look at the Superleague ladder you will find the range of matches played this year so far ranges between 4 and 7 (this year is probably an extreme example) and yet they all have the same schedule and must all finish by the same date. In a normal year, these matches would have to be caught up in the way I outlined. So no, the players don't always get a week off. I take your point about numbers and care homes but few NRL players live in care homes so its a bit of a moot point really.
Nick
Roar Guru
Soccer has been utterly dominant in player numbers across the central west and south west for decades. Even the most rudimentary Google earth view would back that up. Places like Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Lithgow, wagga wagga leave league for absolute dead with regard to soccer numbers.
Nick
Roar Guru
Where did you read that the EPL and Serie A restart on May 5? Not saying I dont believe it, just haven't read that.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Indeed, Justin. Now the NRL has been given the green light by Fed & State governments, will A-league & AFL soon follow? The latter seems to be more cautious - but that's probably because they have to deal with all 6 state governments.
Big Daddy
Guest
I'm still banking on July 1. That's only 5 weeks after May 28. It then allows for a full 15 round comp where they play each other once and then finals. Bite the bullet and have a shortened season and concentrate on next year.
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
Bundesliga, NBA, NFL, EPL, La Liga, Serie A......all set to resume with Bundesliga on May 5
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
Just read that a small soccer league is due to begin on May 9. this small league is just the 3rd or 4th biggest in the world. German soccer is the small league. No doubt people will be flicking the channel to watch the NRL instead of German soccer.......or maybe not.