The wait for a season schedule goes on

Rugby league players, officials and fans were promised answers on Friday. Instead, the frustrating wait goes on.

Peter Vlandys wielded a big stick in a meeting with Nine’s Hugh Marks

Rugby league players, officials and fans were promised answers on Friday. Instead, the frustrating wait goes on. Rather than the Nine Network standing in the way of progress, it is believed a rival sport has forced the latest delay.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys emerged from a meeting with Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany and Nine Network boss Hugh Marks with a modicum of clarity.

The season will definitely start on May 28, Nine apparently falling into line after firing another warning shot across the bow of the NRL on Thursday night.

Earlier in the day V’landys had promised to wield a big stick but whatever he said appeared to convince Marks that the game was on the right track. A ceasefire has been called.

Both the Nine Network and Foxtel have been pushing for an extension to their existing contracts – which run until the end of 2022 – as part of any deal to the get the game back on the park this year. The delay buys all parties time to reach an agreement.

There was also a commitment that State of Origin would be played after the NRL season. Just when that will be literally remains the million-dollar question as the game and broadcasters wait for more clarity around cricket’s T20 World Cup.

At a very minimum, the regular season will run for 17 rounds, which would mean the grand final would be played on its original date, October 4.

Under that format, each team would play the other once before another two rounds involving marquee match-ups or intense rivals.

It is believed V’landys would be open to the season running longer — Foxtel was keen on a 22-round regular season — but any final decision is likely to hinge on whether the T20 World Cup goes ahead.

Should it be postponed, there is every chance the season could push on into November. Both the Nine Network and Foxtel have rights to the cricket tournament, which is scheduled to begin on October 18 and finish on November 15, but they would have a content shortage and potentially more money to spend if it was cancelled.

V’landys insists the game will be in position to outline a final schedule early next week, although nothing can be taken for granted in the current environment.

The about-face by the Nine Network highlighted the changing landscape. One moment, they were preaching patience and caution.

The next they were said to be supportive of the NRL starting on May 28. Whatever V’landys said to Marks, must have been convincing.

No doubt he would have pointed out that the network is contractually obliged to broadcast the game should it return.

The amount the NRL will receive in return is still to be determined — the networks pay close to $300m between them for the right to televise rugby league in all its forms and a 17-round regular season would mean a significant cut in that revenue.

There are also other matters to decipher, including the stance of the Queensland and Victorian governments.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had called for a detailed outline of the NRL’s plans and she now has that in her hands.

The Warriors are still waiting for more details of their relocation to Australia, including whether they will be able to bring family members with them.

Biosecurity measures were also expected to be shared with the clubs on Friday, but it is understood that process has now been delayed.

“There are a few others things to be sorted out but the broadcasters are united with us to start on May 28 as the target date,” V’landys said. “They are all on board for that. As far as the competition structure is, we need a bit more information to move it forward in terms of other sporting events and how that effects our broadcast partners.

“State of Origin will be after the grand final. We need to consult the players and the clubs naturally but that is our plan.”

Nine, so bullish on Thursday night, declined to comment when contacted by The Weekend Australian. Foxtel also kept its powder dry.

Broadcast expert Colin Smith said if he was in Foxtel’s shoes, he would do whatever he could to get the season up and running, even if it meant doing so without the Nine Network. While that would have implications for the government’s anti-siphoning laws, Smith suggested he could see Foxtel being given permission given the current circumstances.

“This is an absolute wildcard — why couldn’t they put three of the NRL games in front of the paywall of Kayo,” Smith said.

“That could be a killer blow to Channel 9. I think they can (do it). The other thing is that would grow subscribers enormously with Kayo. It is a brilliant marketing tool for Foxtel.”