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Mayer calls for an extra round
By Brent Read
June 18, 2008
NRL clubs will next week consider a radical proposal which would involve expanding the regular season by one round and moving an entire weekend of matches to Suncorp Stadium.
The concept, developed by Manly chief executive Grant Mayer, is based loosely on Super League's Millennium Magic weekend in which English clubs play a round of games in Wales.
Under Mayer's plan, which is designed to increase the game's revenue streams, all clubs will continue to play 12 home and away matches. But an extra round will be added involving games between traditional rivals such as Manly and Parramatta and Brisbane and North Queensland. The games will then be put out to tender, with the city and stadium offering the largest incentive given the right to host the round.
Mayer's proposal comes at a sensitive commercial time for the game, with Sydney clubs, in particular, struggling for finances given the impact of the New South Wales Government poker machine tax.
Under the plan, profits would be divided into 17 portions - one portion for each club and the other to be given to the players' retirement fund as a reward for playing an extra game.
"The game itself has got to continue to evolve," Mayer said. "This is a simple idea that may develop into a terrific concept. It's open to the floor for feedback.
"I have seen it work in the UK and I think we're a bigger, strong, smarter market that will make this really happen."
Sydney clubs are expected to embrace the concept given their financial woes, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by interstate sides.
The concept has already been broached with the NRL and the NRL board. If it was to be accepted, it would likely begin next season at Suncorp Stadium.
While the jury remains out in club land, Canberra chief executive Don Furner has given his tentative approval to the idea pending further discussion at next Tuesday's summit of chief executives in Sydney.
"It definitely has merit," Furner said. "It would be good to sit down and talk about it."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said the chances of it being approved would likely hinge on its financial viability.
"If you consider the Gold Coast Titans, Monday night football and the Toyota Cup, our code has taken very innovative strategic steps in recent seasons," Gallop said.
"Given its success in the United Kingdom, this may well be a unique opportunity for our game in Australia.
"We need to consider the position of the stadiums, the state governments, the clubs, the players and the fans to see if it's commercially viable."
Next week's summit, which comes on the heels of a meeting last month to discuss the financial pressures on clubs, is expected to address the most pressing issues in the game.
Expansion and the prospects of a national competition will be on the agenda, as will the number of clubs in Sydney.
Mayer's proposal is the first potential solution to be made public.
"We should all be prepared to put up with it for the first 12 months in the hope that years two, three and four become much stronger," Mayer said.
Asked about the increased workload on players, another significant issue confronting the game, Mayer replied: "That's probably the biggest issue when you talk about increasing the number of games. But it's not insurmountable." The structure of the competition is also expected to receive plenty of attention next week, in particular the impact of State of Origin on the club competition.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23881332-23214,00.html
By Brent Read
June 18, 2008
NRL clubs will next week consider a radical proposal which would involve expanding the regular season by one round and moving an entire weekend of matches to Suncorp Stadium.
The concept, developed by Manly chief executive Grant Mayer, is based loosely on Super League's Millennium Magic weekend in which English clubs play a round of games in Wales.
Under Mayer's plan, which is designed to increase the game's revenue streams, all clubs will continue to play 12 home and away matches. But an extra round will be added involving games between traditional rivals such as Manly and Parramatta and Brisbane and North Queensland. The games will then be put out to tender, with the city and stadium offering the largest incentive given the right to host the round.
Mayer's proposal comes at a sensitive commercial time for the game, with Sydney clubs, in particular, struggling for finances given the impact of the New South Wales Government poker machine tax.
Under the plan, profits would be divided into 17 portions - one portion for each club and the other to be given to the players' retirement fund as a reward for playing an extra game.
"The game itself has got to continue to evolve," Mayer said. "This is a simple idea that may develop into a terrific concept. It's open to the floor for feedback.
"I have seen it work in the UK and I think we're a bigger, strong, smarter market that will make this really happen."
Sydney clubs are expected to embrace the concept given their financial woes, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by interstate sides.
The concept has already been broached with the NRL and the NRL board. If it was to be accepted, it would likely begin next season at Suncorp Stadium.
While the jury remains out in club land, Canberra chief executive Don Furner has given his tentative approval to the idea pending further discussion at next Tuesday's summit of chief executives in Sydney.
"It definitely has merit," Furner said. "It would be good to sit down and talk about it."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said the chances of it being approved would likely hinge on its financial viability.
"If you consider the Gold Coast Titans, Monday night football and the Toyota Cup, our code has taken very innovative strategic steps in recent seasons," Gallop said.
"Given its success in the United Kingdom, this may well be a unique opportunity for our game in Australia.
"We need to consider the position of the stadiums, the state governments, the clubs, the players and the fans to see if it's commercially viable."
Next week's summit, which comes on the heels of a meeting last month to discuss the financial pressures on clubs, is expected to address the most pressing issues in the game.
Expansion and the prospects of a national competition will be on the agenda, as will the number of clubs in Sydney.
Mayer's proposal is the first potential solution to be made public.
"We should all be prepared to put up with it for the first 12 months in the hope that years two, three and four become much stronger," Mayer said.
Asked about the increased workload on players, another significant issue confronting the game, Mayer replied: "That's probably the biggest issue when you talk about increasing the number of games. But it's not insurmountable." The structure of the competition is also expected to receive plenty of attention next week, in particular the impact of State of Origin on the club competition.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23881332-23214,00.html
If it'll help clubs with the pokie tax, why not?
