NRL focused on broadcast deal in 48 hours

Andrew Abdo makes it his priority to future-proof the NRL by striking a deal with Nine and Foxtel within the next two days.

Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes in Melbourne. The club has identified two NSW towns where the team can train together Picture: AAP

Interim NRL boss Andrew Abdo will make it his priority to future-proof the code by striking a broadcasting deal with the Nine Network and Foxtel within the next 48 hours.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and Abdo are believed to have held further discussions with Nine on Wednesday. The sense is they are edging towards a breakthrough, hence the decision by Project Apollo officials to lock in further talks before the weekend.

The immediate priority is to sort out funding for the remainder of this season, although talks have also been held over an extension to the existing deal, which runs until the end of 2022.

The fresh terms could be for anything up to three seasons, ­although there is a belief in some quarters the game would be silly to commit its future in the current environment.

Regardless, Abdo made no ­secret of where his priorities lay in an email to club bosses on Wednesday morning. In a missive ­delivered to chief executives, he insisted he and V’landys were ­focused on striking a deal with the broadcasters over the structure of the season and the size of funding under the new model.

With the game’s financials still in limbo, Abdo has put on hold talks over the salary cap, football cap and club grants, pending an agreement with Nine and Foxtel.

Against that backdrop, Project Apollo head Wayne Pearce on Wednesday confirmed the season would resume on May 28 and clubs would be permitted to begin training on May 4.

Pearce has promised the game and its players will adhere to ­standards beyond those set in the general community, and it is also understood the NRL will employ at least three independent officials to ensure their rules are followed.

One is an independent doctor and academic who will be charged with constantly reviewing the NRL’s procedures and protocols. Another will be an independent medical person. And the third will be in charge of logistics.

The belief is that by hiring ­independent officials, the NRL will remove any spectre of bias and will show the respective governments that the game is committed to ensuring its clubs and players toe the line.

“We are tracking OK,” Pearce said. “There had been talk about teams training on May 4, but we have sanctioned that now in NSW. We are working with the (Queensland and Victorian) governments in relation to their guidelines.

“Given the (virus) transmission rate is going down, we are expecting there may be a relaxation of guidelines. Worst case scenario is the Melbourne and Queensland teams will have to come to NSW.”

Asked about the protocols that would be placed around players and clubs, Pearce said: “We are going to have standards that are higher than what public standards are because we want to be setting a benchmark. So we will be putting sanctions in place. We are in the process of negotiating what they are at the moment.”

The NRL is believed to be growing increasingly confident that it will receive the green light for the Queensland clubs to begin training at home, rather than be forced to move interstate.

Further talks will be held with the Queensland government over the next week. The same applies to the Victorian government, ­although there is a degree of pessimism over the chances of the Storm being cleared to resume training in Melbourne.

That means Melbourne and the Warriors are likely to relocate to NSW. The Storm have narrowed their options down to two towns in NSW.

Meanwhile, in his first act as NRL boss, Abdo sent an email ­titled “short-term priorities” to club chief executives on Wednesday. Abdo said he and V’landys were locked in talks with the Nine Network and Foxtel aimed at finalising the season structure and future-proofing the game.

“We will only be able to update you on this once we reach some resolution with Nine and Fox,” Abdo wrote. “There are oppor­tunities for us to come out of this leaner and fitter.”