What’s the Buzz: NRL turns to Roosters chairman Nick Politis in bid to turn game’s finances around
WITH the AFL and soccer banging at the gates, the NRL has turned to one of its harshest critics to turn the game’s finances around. PLUS, why are Wests Tigers TV’s biggest draw?
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WITH the AFL and soccer banging at the gates, the NRL has turned to one of its harshest critics to turn the game’s finances around. PLUS, why are Wests Tigers TV’s biggest draw? It’s all in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
SAINT
SUDDENLY, the NRL refereeing crisis means nothing. Same with the bunker and crappy NRL administration.
The terrible plight of brave golfer Jarrod Lyle and his beautiful family puts the whingeing, bitterness and everything else in our lives into perspective.
The most extraordinary story of courage, yet horrible sadness. Lyle had twice battled and beaten myeloid leukaemia, the hideous disease that first struck him as a 17-year-old.
Now 36, he is in palliative care, his very brave fight almost over.
Jarrod, you are a wonderful inspiration to us all.
SAINT II
REFEREE Matt Cecchin’s 300th NRL game at Penrith on Sunday. That he continues to stand out as the game’s number one ref despite the appalling treatment from the NRL’s appointments committee is an absolute credit to the man.
SINNER
HE not only appointed himself as an Immortals judge despite a limited history in the game, but limelight-loving Todd Greenberg also placed himself at front and centre of the historic announcement at the SCG on Wednesday night.
SHOOSH
WHO was the high-profile NRL star who rang to thank your columnist for not naming him last week as the footballer who was chucked out of a nightclub?
SHOOSH II
WHICH big-name halfback/five-eighth have the Broncos spoken to about joining them next season? And it’s not Parramatta star Mitchell Moses.
SHOOSH III
WHICH old Immortal was blowing up on Wednesday night at the SCG about the NRL not providing a sit-down meal at one of the most prestige events in league history?
SHOOSH IV
WHICH NRL licensed club has had to sell its poker machines to an outside company to ease cashflow problems? It now only receives a small percentage of takings.
SPOTTED
RABBITOHS coach Anthony Seibold catching a Manly ferry to Circular Quay for a meeting in the city on Tuesday. Seibold lives on the northern beaches.
SPOTTED II
FORMER Canterbury chief executive Malcolm Noad enjoying lunch with Southern Highlands hotel baron Marty Downs in Bundanoon on Friday.
PAIR OF CHAMPIONS — AND THEIR BOYS
SYDNEY Roosters players will again use this week’s Women in League round to pay tribute to the most special females in their lives.
The boss of major sponsor Steggles, John Camilleri, has generously given up the front of the tricolours’ jersey for the match against arch rivals South Sydney on Friday night.
Fullback James Tedesco and front-rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will carry the names of their mums, Rosemary and Karen, on to ANZ Stadium.
Tedesco said he was impressed at what the Roosters were doing for the Women in League round when he was still at Wests Tigers last year.
“I remember thinking what a special idea this was when Steggles and the Roosters launched the campaign and I’m so excited I get to be part of it this year,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my mum, Rosemary, and I’m so proud that I can honour her this way for all the unwavering love, guidance and support she has given to me and my brother over the years.”
Rosemary broke down and cried when the champion fullback showed her the jersey.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” she said. “James has worked incredibly hard over the years and I’m very proud of him.
“It will be very special to see him out there playing the game he loves so much wearing a jersey with my name on it.”
Waerea-Hargreaves’ mum, Karen, flew in from New Zealand for the photo shoot and online video.
TIGERS RATING HIGH
TV network Fox Sports is hoping the Wests Tigers can continue on their run for the semi-finals.
Remarkably for a middle-of-the-road team, the Tigers share No.1 position on pay TV ratings this season with the Brisbane Broncos.
Not bad for a side that lost its three biggest names last year — James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Moses.
Strangely, the Cowboys are the third most-watched on Fox Sports considering North Queensland have been such dismal failures this season. At the other end of the table, the Gold Coast Titans are clearly the least-watched team.
Their average audience is 31,000 less than the second-lowest team — Canterbury Bulldogs — and they are the only club that doesn’t average 200,000 viewers or more.
POLITIS POINTS TO NRL FUTURE RICH IN ASSETS
THE NRL has turned to one of its harshest critics to build a financial investment strategy to secure the long-term future of rugby league.
Independent Commission chairman Peter Beattie and CEO Todd Greenberg met with the Roosters’ billionaire supremo Nick Politis on Thursday for discussions on revenue-raising.
“Nick’s been quite persistent about the game having a long-term investment strategy,” Beattie said. “He’s been incredibly successful and we’re going to use every idea he’s got.
“I totally agree with him that this should have been done years ago.
“We’re going to be in a much better position as a game if we can make a fraction of the money Nick’s made over the years.”
Independent commissioner Gary Weiss has been put in charge of looking at investment and potential asset strategies as the game approaches an era when media companies can no longer be guaranteed to come up with multibillion-dollar offers for broadcasting rights.
Another commissioner, Peter V’landys, who has built NSW racing into a position of financial strength over the past decade, will also be involved in the purchasing of assets.
It is all aimed at fighting off the threats in grassroots football from soccer and a cashed-up AFL, which made a $60 million profit last year.
The AFL also owns Etihad Stadium and its own administration headquarters.
“We have to put some money into some revenue-bearing asset,” Beattie said. “We don’t have a lot of money, we don’t even own our building, but we can take a long-term approach to this.
“Nick had some very good ideas on how we can build over time.”
The recent Australian Financial Review Rich List revealed Politis was worth $1.35 billion. He became the first jersey sponsor in Australian sport with City Ford in 1975 and is celebrating his 25th year as chairman of the Roosters.
FLANNO OFF THE RADAR
IT’S interesting Sharks coach Shane Flanagan — off contract at the end of next season — hasn’t been mentioned as a possible target for rival clubs.
He’s won a premiership and made the finals in six of his seven seasons since taking over from Ricky Stuart. We’ve heard the Parramatta Eels might be interested if the review they are now undertaking works out unfavourably for Brad Arthur.
A YOUNG MAN GOING PLACES
WHO says you’ve got to be mean and nasty to make it in the brutal world of boxing. Look at Jeff Horn and our hottest young boxer, Brock Jarvis. The nicest 20-year-old sportsman you will ever meet.
The Jeff Fenech-trained Jarvis KO’d Thai Yotchanchai Yakaeo in round one of their super bantamweight contest on Billy Dib’s card on Friday. His record is now 14-0 — with 13 by knockout.
Fenech is now looking to take Jarvis to the US to find tougher opponents.
MILE-HIGH MISERY FOR KIWIS AND POMS
THE future of rugby league’s annual Denver Test match is in serious doubt because the promoter still hasn’t paid the cash-strapped New Zealand or England rugby leagues.
Players from both countries received their match payments last week but the governing bodies have not been paid about $250,000 that was promised.
Kiwis CEO Greg Peters told me on Friday his organisation was trying to work on a repayment plan with the promoter to get the money gradually.
The issue was discussed at the International Rugby League Federation meeting in Singapore last weekend. It was agreed that, although there is a three-year agreement to play a mid-year Test in Denver, the schedule would be looked at.
Next year’s Kiwi-England Test is more likely to be played at a different time of the year — in New Zealand or England.
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: NRL turns to Roosters chairman Nick Politis in bid to turn game’s finances around
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