Brisbane Broncos CEO, board members to sacrifice ‘six-figure sums’ to save club during coronavirus crisis

Brisbane Broncos CEO, coach, board members to sacrifice ‘six-figure sums’ in bid to help club survive coronavirus pandemic.

Broncos CEO Paul White speaks to the media at the club’s Red Hill base today. Picture: AAP

The Brisbane Broncos have begun cutting costs from the very top. Broncos chief executive Paul White fronted a media conference this morning when he confirmed his executive team along with coach Anthony Seibold had sacrificed in some cases six-figure sums to help the club through the coronavirus pandemic.

It is understood members of the Broncos’ board also agreed to 75 per cent cuts in their honorariums as part of their commitment to save the club and its staff members. The Broncos are the most affluent club in the NRL, having enjoyed a period of sustained financial success under White.

The club’s long-standing chief executive was poised to leave at the end of the season but is now weighing up whether to stay on to help the club through the current crisis.

“I made my decision to make this year my last in the best interests of the club,” White said.

“If I believe me remaining for a period of time is what this club needs and the board have given an indication they may like to see that happen, I will make that decision at that time.

“But I am not going to tap out until I am satisfied that the club is back on a level footing. I am not giving a definitive answer there, but I am not saying no either,

“We’re operating in unprecedented times. Everything is so fast-moving at the moment. What we plan for today may not be appropriate for tomorrow.

“When you think back to two weeks ago we played in front of a full house in Townsville. We are in a completely different place today.

“We are in a fight for our survival — our survival as a game and for us, our club also.”

A smartphone videos Broncos CEO Paul White as he addresses the media. Picture: AAP

The Broncos are among the most stable clubs in the competition. Others are not as fortunate and their survival is at risk. Even so, White and Seibold have taken 20 per cent pay cuts. The players are expected to fall into line, White among the officials involved in negotiations with the Rugby League Players Association.

“The players are represented by the RLPA, which is a union that is signatory to the funding agreement which the clubs and the NRL are all part of,” White said.

“We’re in this together. I imagine our players are acutely aware that staff will be losing their jobs. There is no sugar-coating that.

“Everyone knows what is coming. I think the penny has dropped right across all industries, our industries included.

“We have to get our game through where we are now to the back end of the season. As I stand here at the moment the fortunate thing about our club is we started planning … probably about four weeks before it really ramped up.

“No-one could have anticipated where this would start and finish. I guess no-one can now. People losing their jobs are significant and there is more pain to come.

“Where we are at the moment, we are in a strong position. Bear in mind our business model is based on another 15 clubs participating in a competition.

The Broncos defeated Souths for their second successive victory of the NRL season before the competition was suspended. Picture: AAP

“Our business model is based on an NRL competition proceeding. I can guarantee you right at this point in time that our club is in a strong position.

“We want the comp to survive. We are united as 16 clubs to take whatever measures are necessary to keep this competition surviving.”

White acknowledged that the Broncos, like every other club, would be at the mercy of COVID-19.

“You people have done 35-minute press conferences with me taking about garbage — today I am talking about people’s lives and livelihoods,” White said.

“That brings it into sharp perspective. You realise how small we are in the scheme of things. We’re all trying to make a decision about what the future holds but mother nature is going to make that decision for us.

“There will come a time when nature will determine when this ends. We have to have a bit of self-awareness that yes we might think we’re important, but we’re not that important.”