V’landys locks in NRL for liftoff

A desire to make the premiership as authentic and credible as possible prompted ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys to drive through a 20-round competition.

Broadcasters fear empty stadiums will not attract viewers Picture: AAP

A desire to make the premiership as authentic and credible as possible prompted ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys to drive through a 20-round competition that will push the grand final to October 25 and the State of Origin series into November.

The NRL confirmed the competition structure late on Tuesday, V’landys having informed the clubs after further discussions with the broadcasters earlier in the day. It is understood while the length of the season has been finalised, the parties are yet to agree on the funding that it will bring in for the game from the Nine Network and Foxtel.

That crucial discussion could be a week or more from reaching a climax, meaning that players and clubs will be forced to take a leap of faith as they prepare to return to training on May 4.

The NRL is paid about $300 million each season by Nine and Foxtel — finals games and State of Origin are considered more valuable than regular season games.

Even so, the likelihood is that the four rounds that have been dropped will cost the game in excess of $50m given the broadcasters are already pushing to pay less due to the absence of crowds and the impact that has on the viewing experience.

V’landys told the clubs late on Tuesday that he believes the game will strike a deal that is financially acceptable to everyone, the decision to push out to 20 rounds already ensuring they will be well compensated and make it easier for clubs to appease sponsors.

The Nine Network had been pushing for a 17-round season — two rounds were played before the competition was shut down — while Foxtel was believed to be keen on 22 rounds.

V’landys vowed to meet the broadcasters in the middle and he has done just that, the final outcome having significant ramifications for the grand final and the Origin series. The grand final had been scheduled for the SCG, although that will now be contingent on the T20 cricket World Cup going ahead — there has been speculation it could be postponed due to COVID-19. If it goes ahead, the grand final is likely to be moved to Bankwest Stadium. However, should crowds be allowed through the gates by late-October, the grand final could be played at ANZ Stadium provided the rebuild of the venue is delayed.

The Origin series will also run into November — it is likely to be played over consecutive Wednesdays — and could again be impacted by cricket’s T20 World Cup. Australia is due to play a game on November 3 and the Nine Network would be reluctant to sanction a date that would put Origin up against a T20 game involving the national side.

Regardless, the decision to push the season out to 20 games will alleviate some of the concerns of the clubs who started the season poorly before the premiership went into hibernation.

Some of them had campaigned to have the points from the opening two games scrapped, while others had suggested a longer season was necessary to protect the integrity of the competition.

V’landys clearly agreed and made the final call on a day when the game’s return took some significant steps forward. Before speaking to club officials, V’landys talked to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and walked away confident she and her government were supportive of rugby league’s return.

The hope is that she will give the green light for the Queensland clubs to stay at home and train from May 4, when players have been given clearance to resume.

“We just want to make the competition credible and authentic by having the competition 20 rounds and State of Origin not in the middle, when it takes the players away from the clubs,” V’landys said.

“They will have the players for the whole year and the opportunity to make the (top) eight.”

As for his talks with Palaszczuk, V’landys said: “She was fantastic. She listened to us, gave us the opportunity to present our case. We couldn’t ask for any more.”

The final draw will be determined in the next two weeks, including the timing of Origin. The NRL’s confidence over their return has been strengthened by the introduction of guidelines, which will be formalised this week.

Associate professor David Heslop will be charged with overseeing the protocols. He backed the NRL’s decision to return on May 28. “If you asked me a couple of weeks ago when they stopped playing should they have stopped playing, I would have said yes,” he said. “In the interim period, Australia has been successful … in controlling this outbreak.”