NRL deep in negotiations to strike historic partnership with OzTag

[DIEHARD]

National Rugby League deep in negotiations to strike historic partnership with OzTag

THE NRL is deep in negotiations to strike an historic partnership with OzTag, which would bring 160,000 new participants into the game’s reach.

Replicating the strategic alliance that was forged with Touch Football Australia last year, the mooted OzTag link would enable the code to boast the biggest player base of any Australian sport.

Bringing touch football under the NRL banner has delivered more than 500,000 new players, whose registration details can now be leveraged to increase membership and marketing opportunities. The increased base also puts both sports in a far stronger bargaining position for use, hire and improvement of local council grounds.

OzTag founder and former Dragons star Perry Haddock last night confirmed high-level talks with NRL boss Dave Smith were gaining momentum toward an agreement, following years of false starts with previous regimes at League Central.

Haddock revealed he’d spoken to Smith around six times in the past year, but was yet to agree on the exact mechanics of the agreement. “We’re still talking to Dave Smith’s people and the talks have been very positive,” Haddock said.

“Nothing has been set in concrete yet and we’ve still got some way to go before we can get to the point where we’ve got an alliance. But that’s what we’re working toward.”

Haddock said the now-defunct ARL regime was dismissive when he first approached them about OzTag, shortly after the sport’s inception. Follow-up talks have failed to produce any formal ties, despite the fact OzTag rules have more resonance with rugby league than touch football.

Haddock also dismissed suggestions that he’d put an exorbitant price on the booming sport, declaring: “It was never about money.

“My top priority is that our sport and the people who have built it are looked after properly,” he added.

“At the end of the day, rugby league and Oz Tag are two separate sports with two separate administrations.

“We’ve sort of come to each other and had a few round table discussions.”

The NRL declined to comment when contacted last night.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

This would be a dream come true lined up alongside touch footy.