National Rugby League side South Sydney Rabbitohs Chair Nick Pappas "dismissed talk of a breakaway league ahead of a meeting between the 16 clubs to discuss the NRL’s handling of broadcasting negotiations," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Pappas, who was a key architect in the formation of the independent commission, insisted that "his club retained the utmost faith in the game’s governing body." The Australian Rugby League Commission, led by Chair John Grant and CEO Dave Smith, "has come under intense scrutiny over their handling of talks with the Nine Network and blindsiding pay television provider Fox Sports." Pappas insisted that "the Rabbitohs retained full faith in Smith and the commission, and ridiculed talk of a breakaway" by the 12 clubs which are yet to sign participation agreements to play in the premiership beyond '17. Pappas: "Any talk of a breakaway league is reckless and uninformed." Penrith GM of Football Phil Gould "has also talked down the chances of a breakaway competition, using social media to deny the clubs were at war with Smith" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/24). In Sydney, Brad Walter wrote the fallout from the deal with Nine, which angered News Corp. execs -- led by Rupert Murdoch -- "to such an extent they rushed to conclude a deal with the AFL that trumped the NRL's announcement, has been seized on by clubs as a means to increase pressure on Smith and chairman John Grant over the running of the game and the amount of funding they receive." While reports of a Super League-style breakaway are little more than News Corp. propaganda, the 12 clubs yet to sign participation agreements with the NRL beyond '17 believe that "the Nine deal puts them in a strong bargaining position -- because if they don't sign, there will be no competition for Nine to broadcast." St. George Illawarra, Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Gold Coast "are the only clubs to have signed new participation agreements." The other clubs "plan to hold out until the NRL agrees to some of their demands." The clubs want an increase in their annual NRL grant from A$7.5M ($5.4M) a year to A$12M ($8.7M) if the salary cap rises to A$10M ($7.2M) a year in '18 -- or an annual payment of more than A$2M ($1.4M) "in excess of their total wages bill for players" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/23). Also in Sydney, Paul Crawley wrote "while no one wants another war to happen, many clubs are sick of being given what they label lip" service by Smith and Commission Chair John Grant. The club chairman "listened to Smith and John Grant talk them through the TV deal last week, and it’s fair to say they were less than impressed with the information that was forthcoming." The demands include:
- Grassroots rugby league "needs to be fixed as well as bush football;"
- They "want a clear understanding of how the NRL will fix what has been called a refereeing crisis;"
- There "is also major concerns about plans to scrap" the U20s competition (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/23).
