By GEOFF STEVENSON
NRL Teams need more incentive
WHEN it comes to the governance structures of sporting organisations worldwide, I think the NRL has got the right mix. The autonomy the licencing system offers allows clubs to establish their own leadership and culture and open opportunities for creativity and, especially around conduct and welfare, responsibility.
Sure, it’s not like the NRL invented this type of structure, borrowing from the NFL and various other high profile sports, however I think it’s a welcome shift from the days rugby league clubs had boards that could talk a lot (and a lot), do little, and complain about why the governing body isn’t doing enough to help them. Now the onus is on clubs to help themselves.(more below)
NRL clubs are now given grants, a list of responsibilities and a phone number they can call for advice. Clubs can be as creative or as uninspired as they like.
The downside (there’s always a downside) to this structure is getting clubs to commit to NRL initiatives that they are just not interested in. And I’m not talking about day-to-day activities, clubs will throw everything they have at winning games and premierships because they have a direct, vested interest in winning and the benefit to them is obvious.
It is the NRL (and international) initiatives on the fringe that can be affected by a general apathy by some clubs. The Auckland Nines and World Club Challenge are two strong examples. While the NRL have rules and guidelines around these competitions (like the ‘one player from a clubs top five and 12 players from a clubs top 25’ rule for the Nines), clubs find ways of broadcasting their ambivalence. When it came to this year’s World Club Challenge, clubs like the Storm flat out refused to go. Quite reasonably, the clubs are laser focused on the NRL season.
So how the NRL inspire the clubs to look beyond the premiership? Well in true carrot and stick style, clubs need further incentive to participate in these events, in a way that relates to their premiership aspirations. Prizemoney has been the usual fall back option, however, while winning money will help a club’s bottom line, it won’t help them win NRL games. Private ownership can also affect a clubs priorities around gaining extra funds.
My solution is for the NRL to use their greatest bargaining chip, the salary cap. If clubs were rewarded with cap concessions; I predict these events would take on much greater importance. Imagine the winner of the Nines receiving a $200,000 cap concession (the current winner of the Nines gets over $300,000 in prizemoney). The runner-up could get a $100,000 concession. The World Club Challenge could follow a similar model, meaning clubs could return from the UK with a tangible reward for their sacrifice.
I know some will argue that this will create an uneven playing field, however this can be mitigated if current third party sponsorship policies were watered down. And clubs would be rewarded for results rather than how many rich people they know. Premiers would love the prospect of winning a concession in the WCC to assist in keeping their squad together. Struggling clubs could really push for a Nines win to allow them to boost their current squad. Fans will get to see higher quality events, played with greater intensity, resulting in better attended, more successful events.
Once in place, concession could be used to incentivise other important competitions and events. The QLD Cup and NSW Cup Premiers could receive a concession their feeder teams could use, encouraging their bigger brothers to properly resource and support their lower grade teams.
In the scheme of things these competitions are a blip on the sporting radar. But they, as well as the international game, give our game depth beyond the weekly grind of NRL. They are a point of difference between us and the other codes, and an incentive like this could ensure they survival
