NRL

The NRL’s historic investment deal with the English Super League is drawing ever nearer.

But as talks continue, two of the 14 Super League clubs are digging their heels in over details of the upgraded offer believed to be worth £50 million (AUD$95 million) over five years.

According to reports out of the UK, the Brad Arthur-coached Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls are the last two holdouts on the deal that would see around £6-7 million a year flow straight to Super League clubs.

While the exact reasons for Leeds’ and Bradford’s continued caution have not been stated publicly, the sticking point appears to be the fine print, specifically how much say the English clubs will keep over their own competition and how the NRL’s money will actually get carved up.

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Interestingly, while his future club has already backed the Super League-NRL partnership, incoming St. Helens coach Kevin Walters said earlier this month he doesn’t see the current state of the English competition as desperate.

“I don’t think Super League is in need of help, that’s not what I see,” Walters declared to BBC Sport, perhaps unsurprisingly echoing the thoughts of his new boss, St. Helens chairman Eamonn McManus, who has framed the NRL’s involvement as a genuine partnership rather than a takeover of a struggling rival.

Another Australian with a direct and personal interest in the current negotiations is London Broncos co-owner Darren Lockyer, whose club is set to be included in the top flight of Super League under the terms of any new deal.

Lockyer has urged English clubs not to blow their ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to transform the game in tandem with the NRL.

“Super League is a great product, but it really does need a shot in the arm… the NRL can provide that,” he said.

As always, money is central to everything and with the finer details around equity and control of the English game still unresolved, it remains to be seen how much more ground the NRL is prepared to concede — if any — in order to get the remaining two clubs to sign off.

NRL

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