The NRL has posted a record operating surplus of $62.9 million for the 2022 season, an increase of almost $20 million on the previous year, as the game draws closer to finalising a collective bargaining agreement with the players.
The ARL Commission has distributed details of its financial report to members, which include a net asset position that exceeds $200 million, up by 45 per cent compared to 2021.
Total revenue increased by $18.7 million to a rugby league record revenue of $593.8 million, while operating expenditure dropped $17.1 million, which is nine per cent lower than in 2021.
Those figures include the running of two NRLW competitions during the 2022 calendar year, along with an expanded international calendar.
The NRL said the $19.9 million increase in the operating surplus, coupled with the reduction in operating expenses, has put the game in a position that will allow distributions as a percentage of revenue to be increased further in the next five-year cycle.
Distributions to players, clubs, states and game development were also up by $17.3 million, a 4.9 per cent increase on the prior year.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys.Credit:Dean Sewell
The NRL said the acquisition of Gambaro Hotel in Brisbane was the first step in adding income-producing assets to its balance sheet. Its net asset position now exceeds $200 million, up by 45 per cent compared to 2021.
NRL players also received approximately $40 million in outperformance payments, enabling them to receive almost all of the salary-related reductions that took place during COVID-19.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said the commission had responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a plan to secure the financial viability of the game.
“The commission has been focused on navigating the challenges of COVID-19 to ensure we are able to maximise funds available for distribution to members, invest in grassroots participation and invest in income-producing assets,” V’landys said.
“We’ve emerged in a strong financial position, NRL clubs are well-funded and profitable, fans are supporting the NRL and NRLW competitions in record numbers and there is a plan in place to further invest in grassroots football including schools and club participation.
“Furthermore, the game now has acquired an asset, the Gambaro Hotel, that will diversify revenues and create innovative experiences for fans. This is the first of many assets that will produce revenues for the game.
“The plan has included strategies to grow revenues and restructure operations to ensure the game was fit and ready to emerge from the pandemic, with the financial strength to seize expected growth opportunities.”
The NRL said the financial performance was a result of a strong season of football that included:
- Cumulative Telstra Premiership TV, streaming and linear audiences of 132.5 million (up 5 per cent);
- 17 per cent growth in digital audience, including 6.6 million social media followers;
- 3.5 million fans attending games which is the highest in a decade.
At the end of 2022, the NRL and NRLW’s naming-rights partner Telstra extended its association with rugby league to 2027. The new five-year partnership is the largest in the game’s history and marks a 26-year involvement in the game by Telstra.
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo thanked key stakeholders for supporting the game and said the game’s strong financial position forms the basis from which the NRL will pursue ambitious growth plans during the next five years.
The NRL and the Rugby League Players’ Association were again engaged in negotiations on Wednesday in the hope of brokering a CBA before the start of the NRL season next week. The traditional season launch has been a casualty in the protracted and often heated discussions, although both parties are hopeful of a resolution before the opening Parramatta-Melbourne clash on Thursday week.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
