The NRL has posted a $27.8 million surplus for the first half of 2018, with Rugby League Central buoyant about the game’s long-term health.
The numbers were presented to NRL club heads at Friday’s CEOs and Chairs’ meeting, as part of ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie’s promise to be more transparent.
The NRL trumpeted a 29 per cent increase in sponsorship, a 39 per cent rise in distribution to clubs and a 17 per cent jump in funding to states.
The NRL also said Australian TV audiences were up one million viewers compared to the same point last year while crowds had grown by three per cent.
“This is the first time that this has actually happened, that we’ve shared every bit of the finances with the clubs, the chairs and the states,” Beattie said.
“That’s the kind of transparency that will build trust and confidence in the game.”
Beattie promised to be transparent after his predecessor John Grant was ousted from power following a dispute with the clubs over the allocation of funds and the game’s finances.
Gold Coast chairman Dennis Watt praised Beattie and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg for opening the game’s books.
“From a club’s point of view, we applaud the partnership and transparency around the finances,” Watt said.
“What’s particularly pleasing is there’s less reliance on our wonderful broadcast partners in terms of driving results.
“The NRL team have driven those non-broadcast revenues, those commercial arms in particular in terms of sponsorship, wagering and the digital fields.
“There’s also been incredible discipline shown by the NRL around costs and containment.”