NRL chief Andrew Abdo says a recreation within the US subsequent yr and the revival of rugby league’s Ashes sequence for the primary time in 20 years will probably be thought of as a part of a push to develop the sport internationally.
The ARL Fee will meet on Wednesday to debate a variety of points together with the collective bargaining settlement negotiations, membership grants and the finalisation of the draw for subsequent yr. The Rugby League Gamers Affiliation not too long ago wrote to its gamers assuring them it “won’t be pressured into agreeing to phrases which might be unreasonable or unsatisfactory for gamers” and that “it’s time to genuinely begin bargaining” with the NRL in trying to strike a deal.
The golf equipment are additionally in search of extra money, demanding in enhance within the annual grant to a document $5 million greater than the wage cap from subsequent yr. Final season, the bottom wage cap was $9.1 million.
These discussions are occurring whereas the Rugby League World Cup, run by Worldwide Rugby League [IRL], takes place in England. The NRL is ready to have a fair higher say on the world recreation, with Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys set to affix IRL as administrators, changing Wayne Pearce and Peter Beattie, with commissioner Professor Megan Davis a everlasting proxy.
With the announcement of subsequent yr’s NRL schedule imminent, one of many burning points on the fee assembly will probably be whether or not to proceed with plans to take a contest recreation to the US for the primary time. Whereas the Rabbitohs dominated themselves out of the enterprise for 2023, citing a scarcity of time to organise the logistics, Abdo is adamant the fixture might nonetheless go forward subsequent yr.
“We’re completely it,” Abdo mentioned. “Development within the recreation in America is actual for us, we imagine rugby league is the most effective skilled sport on the planet and a chance to take that to a market like America is engaging for us.
Manly may very well be one of many groups heading over to play in america.
“We will probably be that and dealing laborious on making that occur over a long run. It’s definitely a consideration for the draw for subsequent yr.”
Manly will probably be one of many competing groups if the enterprise is given the inexperienced mild, whereas the Roosters and Melbourne are among the many main contenders to affix them.
