Monday Buzz: Clubs’ threat to NRL as State of Origin scheduling war gets ugly

The fight over State of Origin scheduling has escalated – and clubs are in a powerful position to negotiate the outcome they want, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Ben Hunt and Jarome Luai.

Pressure is building on the NRL to scrap the eight-week mid-year State of Origin schedule with several clubs now threatening to refuse to sign new licensing agreements until the issue is resolved.

All licensing agreements expire on October 1, leaving the 17 clubs in a powerful position to negotiate for the outcome they want.

Running Origin from May to July is taking an enormous toll on the top clubs.

The Panthers, Cowboys, Broncos and Rabbitohs supply 21 players between them.

Yet together, the Sharks, Warriors and Dragons have just two players.

The current scheduling model not only affects the integrity of the competition but the quality of the weekly premiership prodct and TV ratings for almost a third of the season.

Some of the biggest hitters in rugby league have already spoken out about Origin – Wayne Bennett, the influential Roosters chairman Nick Politis, Souths boss Blake Solly, Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher and Storm general manager Frank Ponissi.

Daly Cherry-Evans and the Maroons celebrate Origin victory. Picture: Getty

Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel had his say over the weekend.

“I don’t think we gave the end-of-the-year schedule during Covid enough of an opportunity,” Reibel said. “I’d like to see that looked at again.

“The other option is to play the whole series over a three or four-week block in July.

“From a commercial aspect, from TV viewership numbers and fans wanting to see their best players play for their clubs, we need to find a solution.”

Wayne Bennett wants Origin condensed into three weeks.

He says you would keep the premiership going at the same time.

“Fans are now accustomed to losing the best players during Origin,” he said, “So why not play it over three straight Wednesday nights rather than eight weeks.”

He also added that Channel Nine should not be allowed to dictate the timing of the games.

NRL commission chairman Peter V’landys says the scheduling will be reviewed at the end of the season.

This however could be too late for the clubs as plans are already underway at NRL headquarters to produce the draw for the 2024 premiership.

The threat to refuse to sign participation agreements is a real one amongst up to half a dozen clubs.

It will be discussed when the 17 clubs meet with the QRL and NSWRL on August 8.

It’s the last thing the NRL needs.

They are already at war with the players over the CBA, they are offside with both the NSWRL and the QRL and now the international nations are getting angry about the delays in finalising a schedule for the end of the season.

Thank goodness V’landys returns to work on Monday to sort all this out.

We can reveal the New Zealand Rugby League is now planning to organise its own series of Test matches in October if the NRL has not reached a solution with the players in the next two weeks.

A series between Samoa, the Kiwis and the Kangaroos would take place in mid-October with the final to be played in the first week of November.

There’s talk the Australia v Kiwis Test will be played in Melbourne at AAMI Park. The CBA delay has meant Tonga is unavailable for the tournament. Frustrated by the scheduling delays, they have instead chosen to tour England for a series.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Clubs’ threat to NRL as State of Origin scheduling war gets ugly