NZ Rugby League likely to get Australian boost

Australia's National Rugby League is poised to assist the financially stricken head organisation of the code in New Zealand.

In recent weeks, the Sunday Star-Times has revealed the depth of the challenges facing the New Zealand Rugby League. The organisation lost $1.3 million in the last financial year and has had to take out a $250,000 bank overdraft to fund its next six months of operation.

That has led to chief executive Phil Holden warning the NZRL's future hangs on Australia and Great Britain changing the commercial or funding model of international league.

Holden's urgings seem to be making an impact at the Sydney-based NRL which is flush with broadcasting riches after its most recent deal saw its annual income from match rights soar from NZ$55m a year to more than NZ$220m annually.

One of the NRL's senior executives, head of football Todd Greenberg, has been in New Zealand for the launch of next year's Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park and, while guarded with his replies, made it clear the Australian organisation was not going to let the NZRL falter due to the importance of the code in this country.

"It [New Zealand] is a very important part of our long-term strategy," Greenberg told the Star-Times. "We want to grow the game here.

"We understand that there is a lot of rugby league support in this country and we saw that in the Auckland Nines, so it's a very important part of our strategy."

Greenberg acknowledged key NRL officials are aware of the NZRL's current financial woes.

"We're in constant dialogue with the guys at the NZRL," he said. "We've got good working relationships with them and we'll continue to have that dialogue and, as needed, we'll give the assistance they need."

No financial rescue package had yet been formulated though.

"No, not at the moment," Greenberg confirmed. "We're talking to them a lot about their strategic direction and the calendar of events."

It is in the NRL's interests to help prop up the code in New Zealand. Without a strong national competition delivering big broadcasting and sponsorship dollars as happens in Australia and England, the NZRL is severely financially disadvantaged.

It was recently revealed that of the 417 players registered to play senior NRL this season, 72 had first played junior football in New Zealand. That represented more than 17% of the playing ranks and was only marginally less than the entire state of Queensland which produced 89 players (21%).

The statistics prompted leading Australian league identity Phil Gould, also the general manager of the Penrith Panthers, to declare New Zealand as a "goldmine for NRL talent". NRL frontrunners Penrith, coached by former Warrior Ivan Cleary, is laden with NZ players.

Meanwhile, Greenberg confirmed the NRL was likely to exercise an option to extend Auckland's contract to run the Nines tournament earlier than anticipated. Organisers Duco Events has a three-year deal with an option for another two.

"We'll probably do that [take up the option] at the end of this particular two-year cycle," he said. "We don't put a timeframe on those sorts of things, we just keep doing what we're doing and judge it on merit, but we're hoping next year can exceed this year.

Greenberg acknowledged the tournament had caught the attention of Australian cities that might want to host it in the future.

"We've got a three-year commitment [to Auckland] so we're honouring that. After that, we'll see what happens."

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