Along with COVID9, NRL and RA broadcast deals are pressing issue for both codes. Networks are playing hardball. Perhaps the unthinkable might now be worth discussing.
In this enlightened period, it is not a crime to play or for that matter enjoy both rugby union and league. Peter Ryan, Brad Thorn, Ricky Stuart, Israel Folou, Wendell Sailor, Andrew Walker and Sonny-Bill Williams. Heck, even Michael Cheika is getting in on the act.
Having taken the Wallabies to a Rugby World Cup Final, Cheika is currently cutting his teeth as an assistant coach at the Roosters. No surprise there, Cheika and Trent Robinson ran a combined Waratahs-Roosters training session back in 2014, and have a relationship which goes back to France.
Now everyone is chummier than they were in the 80s. What if the NRL and rugby were to merge and put together a combined broadcast content deal?
A real fair dinkum one. What would be the estimated value, costs, pro and cons?
While rugby union is in a strong position internationally, this is not the case in Australia.
Australian rugby should keep looking at what options are out there and forge its own path. There is no rule which says Australia must play international rugby to be profitable. NRL and RA could very well put together a jam-packed content deal for all our footy mouths to salivate over.
Start of the year
– Two seven-round tournaments run in parallel. Top four finals with Semi and grand final.
1. League – Eight-team NRL NSW Experimental Rules Tournament: Rabbitohs, Dragons, Eels, Bulldogs, Sharks, Newcastle, Penrith, Tigers.
2. Union – Eight-team NRL Super Rugby Tournament; Broncos, Gold Coast, Cowboys, Melbourne Storm (playing as Rebels), Roosters, Manly, Canberra Raiders (playing as ACT Brumbies), and New Zealand Warriors (play as Western Force in Perth).
Super Rugby players, coaches and officials would be drafted into NRL franchises. It goes without saying, the Super Rugby players draft into the NRL teams and the salary cap need close scrutiny.
– One Reds versus Waratahs State of Origin,
– One Bledisloe
– Two rugby sevens Tournaments comprising all NRL teams.
From end of May to first week in October
– NRL Premiership – a 15-home and away with 16 NRL teams in current finals format (league)
– Champions Rugby Trophy – a 15-round Shute Shield and Premier Rugby competition. This would run in parallel to the NRL Premiership and feature specialist players from the NRL Super Rugby Tournament who do not stay on to play in the NRL Premiership.
– Three State of Origins (league). End of June to end of July.
– Three international Tests (rugby). July.
End of year internationals
– Two Bledisloe Cups Tests
– One Kangaroos versus Kiwis
– Possibility of other Wallaby and Kangaroo Test matches.
Aside from the dollars, it is the opportunities for players, officials and fans that makes this a good plan.
Take Joey Johns. He wanted to play in a Rugby World Cup. He never did and instead stayed loyal to the NRL. Rugby World Cups, Olympic glory in rugby sevens, let’s open it up to all Australian union and league players. Everyone should be eligible and no aspiration should be out of reach.
Then spare a thought for the poor old Super Rugby players. Far better to play regularly in front on a home crowd in an established domestic competition, than being constantly on the road, (sic sorry in the air), playing against teams on the other side of the globe that no-one from Australia could care less about.
That said, definitely a lot of cats to round up to make a combined package happen.
So, say Phil Kearns and Mal Meninga have some beers, bust a few heads and make this happen, what would a gun 1-15 Wallabies team look like featuring our best NRL and rugby talent?
And who would be your head coach picks for the NRL Super Rugby teams? Broncos – Brad Thorn? Sydney Roosters – Michael Cheika?
Craigo
Guest
NRL is just days away from securing a stunning new TV broadcast deal worth up to $2.3 billion, the richest in Australia’s sporting history.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Jaeger. Nice idea, but timing is too early imo RARA cant organise itself into a pair of pants much less enter into JV discussions with another code
Walter Black
Guest
There is no doubt that the NRL has wasted a lot of money. They have a bloated head office (their words) and they have spent a lot of money on things like the "video review bunker". They have also spent a lot of money on developing their own Digital App which gives international access to games for a fee of course. The fact that Ch9 want to buy that app and most RL fans say they shouldn't sell it at any price shows that they have a good asset there. So they don't have as much money in the bank as they should have. CH9 and Fox stopped payments from the 1st April because there was no content but contractually should resume payments again when the NRL restarts. Whilst Nine is trying to use the current situation to renegotiate the deal and secure a bigger discount for this year, Fox can't get the game back quick enough and has said it wants as many games as it can get. Ch7 has also said that it would like to talk to the NRL about securing some content if there was an opportunity. The $250m loan facility was taken out at a time when the NRL was fearing the worst (no restart in 2020) and it was to ensure that all clubs survived the shut down. Now with the NRL due to restart on the 28th, it is likely that they will not need that money or if they have dipped into it, that they will be able to repay it very quickly. Origin and the GF have been rescheduled for november by which time the NRL is anticipating playing in front of crowds. After the hiatus, these games will be sell outs. So the NRL may not be in clover just now but by the end of the year, a leaner more cost effective NRL is likely to be in pretty good shape. You can probably assess RA financial position by that stage a whole lot better than I can.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I am enjoying it :happy:
Olly
Roar Rookie
You are the only person here who has used the words "RA and good position" in the same sentence. You need to read before writing.
CRaigo
Guest
Why. Because of delusional comments by Olly trying to paint a bright future at RA when its crumbling and then death riding the NRL as the game comeback on May 28th being the only football code on Australia back on TV.
Paul
Roar Rookie
I'm against the idea of mixing the codes. The idea of a combined broadcast deal has merit. Fox sports have both, but on separate deals. To have NRL and SR on a singular streaming service, with an app and the ability to steam to my telly through my Fetch Box... I'd pay good dollars for that.
In brief
Guest
The level of hubris by the league faithful is breathtaking..
In brief
Guest
Are you seriously claiming there a snowflakes chance in hell of the NRL not accessing the loan??
Craigo
Guest
Wouldn't matter anyway Olly boy. Any Lawyer firm worth its salt would do it pro bono for the amount of money the NRL would win. I just hope Channel do it. I'd love to see Peter V'landys in action and the Millions the NRL will get.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yeah the ARL chairman says otherwise. They have liability costs.
Craigo
Guest
I'll believe the secured access to the bail out for RA when I see it. Can you post any link? I bet you can't Yes, as I said. In 12 months time the NRL & the AFL will be back to normal. Rugby won't.
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
It would be so great to see NRL players rolling out in a Rugby World Cup, and NRL Super Rugby showdown between a Cheika coached Roosters v Thorn coached Broncos.
Craigo
Guest
The NRL had 120 million in the bank saved. Get a clue Olly. Stop listing to channel 9 propaganda.
Olly
Roar Rookie
What $120m in the bank? Fox and Nine have not paid
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
Read online a total combined code revenue would be above $1B. When there is that kind of money, there is a way.
Olly
Roar Rookie
They have already secured access to the bail out. The Optus deal does concern me.but I have never used the Optus system so not sure what it is like. AFL has no problems, they have excellent administration that all other sports in Oz need to learn from
Craigo
Guest
With the NRL access to 250 million and 120 million in the bank and being back on the park on May 28th. I think the NRL can sue the pants off the soon to be broke channel 9. But don't let reality get in the way of your thinking Olly.
Craigo
Guest
Facts are Facts: In 12 months time the NRL & the AFL will be back to normal. RA will not. The TV deal will at best be with the ABC or SBS or hidden on Optus for a very very low price. RA will be amateur and only NSW and Qld Rugby teams will exist. Any player with talent will be playing in the NRL or Rugby in Europe or Japan. RA has as much chance as a bailout as the A-League has from FIFA. It won't happen! The Wallabies won't beat NZ in Bledisloe Cup for years & years You can come up with your personal dream scenarios you want but the Fact are Facts Olly.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The player pay cut wasn’t the requirement for WR. It was merely required to finalise financials. NRL have secured a loan. We don’t know if they have actually accessed it.