Confident clubs have John Grant over a barrel in NRL funding battle

NRL clubs are set to have an emergency meeting today as they await a peace deal that could end their war with head office over financial demands.

NRL clubs are set to have an emergency meeting on Monday as they await a peace deal that could end their war with head office over financial demands.

Clubs believe the NRL will buckle and approve the funding model they were promised, otherwise Tuesday’s meeting will lead to John Grant’s departure as chairman.

The NRL did not respond to the demands on Sunday but clubs remain hopeful their demands will be met on Monday.

The commission met last Friday and is believed to have approved the 130 per cent funding deal the NRL had ­reneged on.

“The NRL doesn’t know what it is doing,’’ one chairman said.

“It is all over the shop.”

If the money is approved by the NRL, clubs won’t proceed with the EGM. If the money isn’t forthcoming, Grant will be gone.

Chairman John Grant. Picture: Brett Costello

The clubs were due to have a phone hook-up at 2.30pm Sunday but the NRL’s response had not yet arrived.

“The clubs have never been more united,” one Sydney chairman said.

“Either Grant finds the money he promised us or he is voted out. I can’t ­believe he wants to hang on when he clearly has no support from the clubs.”

Grant has been trying to unravel the mess he created during discussions last week with clubs spokesman and Storm chairman Bart Campbell.

Originally published as Confident clubs have John Grant over a barrel in NRL funding battle