Breakthrough in war between Qld Rugby League and NSW Rugby League with ARLC over funding issues

QRL boss Ben Ikin and NSWRL boss Dave Trodden have been pleading the ARLC for more investments into rugby league in their states. Finally, there’s been a breakthrough in the war for more funding.

Ben Ikin and Dave Trodden.

Combatants in a fierce rugby war involving Australia’s most influential officials have temporarily put down their guns.

Australia’s two premier state rugby league bodies – the QRL and NSWRL – had launched legal action against the Australian Rugby League Commission in a bid for significant increases in funding.

Both bodies were becoming increasingly desperate but there has been a breakthrough in talks on two fronts.

The commission has told the officials they would like to replace the current system where funding is delivered on a year by year basis with a four-year model.

And they have also said that when the Commission meets with officials of all 17 NRL clubs, state bosses Ben Ikin (Queensland) and Dave Trodden (NSW) will have a seat at the table.

There is much more hard work to do before the bodies get what they want but negotiations are moving in the right direction and hopes are rising a court case could be avoided.

In a recently released joint statement the Queensland and NSW bodies said the commission was supposed to provide funding approval for the 2023 financial year by September, 2022, but the matter had not been resolved when the statement was released two months ago.

Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin. Picture: Kevin Farmer

NSWRL boss Dave Trodden. Picture: NRL Imagery

The two bodies have been at war with their bosses for several years. The Commission recently rejected a request to contribute funds to an off-season Queensland State of Origin camp and also failed to approve a $50,000 proposal to save North Queensland’s time-honoured Foley Shield.

In a candid interview on SEN Queensland in February, Ikin expressed fears rugby league was losing the code war against its cashed-up AFL rival.

“The AFL are planning to spend to ensure their future for the next 50 years,’’ Ikin told the station.

“We can’t seem to get on the table with our decision makers and hatch a joint plan.

“Soccer and AFL in particular are coming up here and finding green space to build new facilities.

“We are asking for $10 million to spread across those 15 (Queensland Cup) clubs whereas an NRL club gets $17 million each plus another couple million dollars if you run an NRLW side. 

“I feel like we are under-resourced whilst other games have realised the battle is on the ground in winning the hearts and minds of mums, dads, boys and girls.’’

“It’s really alarming. We are having things rejected in writing on the basis that they don’t align with the NRL’s grassroots participation strategy.’’