Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher has accused the NRL of having “embarrassing” prizemoney levels leaving a “poor taste in the mouth” with the winner of this year’s competition to receive just $200,000.
The boss of the minor premiers has come out swinging over the financial reward for all eight finalists, which was halved upon agreement between all clubs and the Rugby League Players Association during the COVID-19 season suspension in 2020.
The NRL is in the midst of negotiating its new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union, which is likely to include a steep rise for the minor premiers and grand final winners, in time for the new broadcast cycle in 2023.
But Fletcher says the NRL’s $43 million surplus for its last financial term and purchase of Caxton Street institution Gambaro Hotel for a reported $25 million is evidence alone the prizemoney levels are below expectation.
“It is a terrible look for the game,” Fletcher told the Herald. “They’ll say that they are increasing the prizemoney in line with the new CBA deal, but it should be going up 10-fold. The money as it is right now, even before it was halved, is embarrassing.
“[Australian Rugby League Commission boss] Peter V’landys does a great job putting it up in the racing industry, but he goes and halves it in football. It’s time they pay clubs and players what they deserve.
Penrith pose with the minor premiership trophy after their win over the Warriors.Credit:Getty
“How is that right to cut the prize money for the minor premiership, semi-finalists and premiers? It just leaves a bad taste in people’s mouth. It would be different if they had no money.
“The club and the players are the ones putting on the game, not the NRL, yet they’ll keep half the prizemoney from us.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the code’s prizemoney structure was agreed by all 16 clubs and players in the middle of the COVID-19 chaos in 2020, with the savings used for additional club grants to help with lost revenue during harsh lockdowns.
The code has also recently brokered a deal to return $38 million to all NRL players in backpay as a result of its stronger than expected financial performance during the pandemic.
The money as it is right now, even before it was halved, is embarrassing
Brian Fletcher
“The clubs and players agreed to a decrease in prizemoney as part of the revised agreements negotiated for the period 2020 to 2022,” Abdo said. “From 2023 we are planning a significant increase in prizemoney.”
The NRL is also privately concerned any change to this year’s prizemoney structure would also require retrospective action for the eight finalists in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
The Roosters received $400,000 for winning the competition in 2019, but the premiers next year are expected to receive an amount well exceeding that.
The protracted CBA talks are expected to continue throughout the finals series, and will include a final figure for the salary cap, expected to be about $11 million, and the length of the season, which could start a week earlier than usual in March.
ARL chairman Peter V’landys and Penrith boss Brian Fletcher.Credit:Getty
“Prizemoney is one issue, but arguably the bigger issue of the Commission’s recognition is 90 per cent of their revenues are driven by the NRL competition with clubs and players,” Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said.
“Sometimes I think the Commission could be best recognising that when they consider issues like prizemoney and club distribution.”
The Panthers, runaway minor premiers and overwhelming title favourites with bookmakers, are expected to open the finals series at BlueBet Stadium on Friday week.
They are likely to play the Storm or Eels in the qualifying final, or could even face the Cowboys if a depleted Panthers side can upset North Queensland in Townsville this Saturday.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
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