NRL faces final hurdle in club licence agreement as teams want updates on TV broadcast deal | Sport Confidential

The NRL is in the final stages of a new licence agreement with the clubs but one final hurdle remains, as the teams want to be kept informed over the next broadcast deal. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.

The NRL and its clubs are in the final stages of thrashing out new licence agreements as they work towards an agreement over whether the clubs should have the right to be kept informed of negotiations for the next broadcasting deal.

The licence agreements, which guarantee the clubs a place in the competition next year, are due to expire in a matter of weeks on October 31.

The parties have agreed on most issues but talks threatened to grind to a halt over whether the clubs should have consultation rights on negotiations between head office and the broadcasters.

The NRL is closing in on a new licence agreement with clubs, but they want to be kept informed of any developments on a new TV broadcast deal. Picture: Getty Images

The current broadcast agreements with the Nine Network and Foxtel run until the end of 2027 but the NRL is expected to kick off fresh talks over the next cycle in coming months as they look to secure a record deal.

The clubs didn’t necessarily want a seat at the table - they just wanted to know what was going on in discussions with the broadcasters. The NRL was understood to be concerned about the danger of sharing sensitive information given the negotiation will involve multiple parties and billions of dollars.

The NRL heads into talks in a strong position - the game has enjoyed record viewership this season and could have an additional two teams when the next deal begins in 2028, giving it extra content to sell to the broadcasters.

RICHO ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO JOHN BATEMAN

John Bateman has been told that he will need to toe the line at the Wests Tigers next year or face the consequences amid fresh speculation over his future.

Bateman is currently in England preparing for a Test series against Samoa, having finished the season on a loan deal with Super League side Warrington.

He is due to return to the Tigers for the start of next season but there has been talk he could be on the move given his relationship with coach Benji Marshall.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson said Bateman’s future is in his own hands and there would be an expectation that he – along his teammates – fall into line.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson (main) has read the riot act to John Bateman (inset).

“We don’t want any player who doesn’t want to be at the club for the crocodile roll that lies ahead and that applies to every player including John Bateman,” Richardson said.

“If he’s not comfortable with the club and the direction Benji is taking us, that is a decision for him.”

Bateman has two years left on a contract that is believed to pay him excess of $650,000 a season. That won’t stop the Tigers and Marshall from sending him back to NSW Cup if they feel he isn’t buying into the club’s ethos.

FLASHBACK

The Immortal chat was alive and well on this day 15 years ago with then Kangaroos skipper Darren Lockyer anointed to join the game’s most elite club. Joyce Churchill – wife of Clive – said Lockyer should be considered to sit alongside the likes of Clive and the rest of the game’s Immortals.

15 years ago, Joyce Churchill declared that Darren Lockyer should be considered to join the Immortals. Picture: Tom Hevezi.

DCE TO MAKE CALL ON MAROONS FUTURE

Daly Cherry-Evans’ Kangaroos career is almost certainly over but his omission from the Australian side won’t play any part in whether he makes himself available again for Queensland.

Cherry-Evans always planned to make a decision on his Maroons availability at some time early next year. Sport Con understands that stance hasn’t changed despite Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga overlooking him for the Pacific Championships.

Cherry-Evans, a veteran of 21 games for Australia, was left out of the Australian squad as Meninga selected Matt Burton, Tom Dearden, Ben Hunt and Mitchell Moses as halves for Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans’ international career is all but over, but he’s yet to make a call on his State of Origin future. Picture: Getty Images

There was also no room for NSW captain Jake Trbojevic and his brother Tom conceded he felt for his older brother.

“I definitely feel for him,” Tom Trboejvic said.

“Similar to me, he loves wearing this jersey and he has been a very good custodian in it.

“He’s obviously disappointed but he understands and I guess there is not much you can do.”

SEA EAGLES RECRUIT NEW HEAD OF FOOTBALL

The Sea Eagles are preparing to revamp their football department with Peter Gentle its new head of football. Gentle has been appointed the top job in the football department having more recently been the club’s head of recruitment.

Gentle has a long history in rugby league. First as a player at St George before transitioning into a coach where he spent time as head coach at Hull FC and interim mentor at the Broncos in 2020. He has also had assistant jobs at Cronulla, Parramatta, South Sydney and the Dragons before he made the move to the Sea Eagles.

The Sea Eagles have signed former Dragons assistant coach Peter Gentle as their new head of football

STORM TO LAUNCH APPEAL FOR NAS SUSPENSION

The Storm have made an application for the upcoming international series to count towards the ban which saw Nelson Asofa-Solomona miss their grand final loss to the Panthers.

Asofa-Solomona was hit with a four game ban following a high tackle on Roosters prop Lindsay Collins. He failed to have the charge downgraded at the NRL judiciary. Now he is hoping that he will be able to count New Zealand’s Tests towards his ban. The Kiwis will play two Tests and a potential final which means the towering Storm prop could be right to play in round one next year.

The Tigers successfully applied to have Api Koroisau’s games count towards two of Fiji’s pool matches while Cameron Murray also used the PM’s XIII match for his ban.

The Melbourne Storm have made an application for upcoming New Zealand test matches to count towards his suspension. Picture: Jonathan Ng

BLINK AND YOU’LL MISS IT

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted a familiar NRL logo during Netflix’s new Starting 5 doco series, which features the likes of LeBron James Jayson Tatum.

Turns out Burbank High School has revamped the old Gold Coast Titans logo and use it for their varsity sports teams.

The logo was featured in a scene where NBA superstar Domantas Sabonis visited a high school in California.

The logo used by Burbank High School in the United States.

MURRAY’S RARE SLICE OF HISTORY

Kangaroos forward Cameron Murray is looking to keep his try-scoring streak going. He has scored in six straight Test. Only five Kangaroos have crossed for a try in seven consecutive Tests and all are backs; Wendell Sailor (1999-2000) and Ken Irvine (1963-64) both nine, Eric Grothe Snr eight times (1982-84) and Brett Morris (2013-14) and Tim Brasher (1995-97) both seven.

Originally published as NRL faces final hurdle in club licence agreement as teams want updates on TV broadcast deal | Sport Confidential