The National Rugby League rebellion "is on hold," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Club powerbrokers on Monday emerged from a meeting "to insist they remained a unified force, committed towards securing their futures by working with the NRL rather than against it." After days of speculation "over the potential for a breakaway competition, that talk was effectively scuppered" when the clubs released a joint statement claiming discussions had been "nothing but positive." There was reportedly "no talk of the recent broadcasting deal with the Nine Network, which has caused such a divide in the rugby league community." Nor was there any discussion of the mooted breakaway league -- 12 of the existing clubs are yet to sign participation agreements beyond '17, when the current broadcasting deals with Nine and Fox Sports expire. Instead, the clubs "focused on discussing their plans for their October meeting with the NRL, where they are expected to push their case" for a set percentage of the game's revenue. As part of that push, the clubs have reportedly been studying "overseas funding models in other sports." The players union is also expected to push for a similar agreement -- it did so in the last negotiations with the NRL "but came away empty-handed." The clubs said in a joint statement, "Given recent developments, the meeting was timely, even though it had long been planned. ... Despite speculation to the contrary, all 16 clubs are united in our approach and we look forward to continuing these discussions with the NRL in a timely manner." At least one of the club officials "believed to be disenchanted" with NRL Chair John Grant and CEO Dave Smith was chided during the meeting after offering a "dissenting voice" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/25).
NEW MODEL: In Sydney, Brad Walter reported NRL clubs "are set to ask" for their annual grants to be set up to 25% higher than total player payments as a condition of signing participation agreements. With only the free-to-air component of the next broadcast deal finalized so far, the NRL, clubs and players "do not know how much money will be available but percentage increases are being considered." Melbourne Storm Chair Bart Campbell, who is the spokesperson for the 16 clubs, also said there was "no truth to reports that some were considering joining a breakaway competition" if Smith and Grant did not resign. Campbell: "There is no mutiny, there was no talk of Super League or a breakaway. We are all committed to the NRL from a license point of view and we are working with the NRL to have some degree of finality and certainty and clarity on a way forward, and that will continue" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/24). In Sydney, Dean Ritchie reported a "dramatic breakaway" to form a "rebel rugby league" was "formally discussed for the first time on Monday." It was a moment "that must have terrified the NRL, at war with clubs over funding." Forming a rebel league "would still seem unlikely but chairpersons now officially have it as an option." All 16 chairpersons were united on Monday in their "bid for more funding from the NRL," which has cash now through the Channel Nine broadcast deal (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/25).
