It was forecast as "explosive" but Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell described as "positive" the meeting on Wednesday between a delegation of NRL club bosses and the NRL's negotiating team about wide-ranging issues that included funding, the salary cap and changes to the constitution.
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Three weeks ago the delegation of club chairmen, comprising Campbell - who is the spokesman for the clubs - Nick Politis (Roosters), Ray Dib (Bulldogs), Scott Penn (Sea Eagles) and Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle, left the meeting headed by ARL chairman John Grant, ARL commissioner Tony McGrath and NRL head of club services Tony Crawford frustrated that negotiations felt as though they'd gone backwards.
Campbell described the latest round of talks as "positive" but it's said there's still be a long way to go before the NRL placates clubs about the points they raised - especially funding.
"We met with the NRL and met with the club chairs afterwards, as planned, to update them on that meeting," said Campbell. "We will meet with them again on December 2 as we try to move forward. All of today's meetings were positive. Today's discussions are constructive and I would hope we would make some progress on the second of December which is when the NRL present to all clubs."
On Monday, Fairfax Media reported the clubs had compiled a list of nine demands, which included:
- annual grants of 130 per cent of the amount for total player payments;
- a 30 per cent share of NRL profits;
- a review of the ARLC constitution;
- NRL licences for an indefinite period;
- an independent review of the NRL's costs, and;
- a say in approving the NRL's budget;
- Review of the ratchet clauses that link increases in the salary cap to increases in player wages;
- A vehicle to share digital rights revenue based on the model used in Major League Baseball;
- $3 million offered by the NRL but with no conditions attached.
Funding has become a major issue in the NRL because the clubs' combined financial losses for 2015 are expected to reach $40 million. The clubs are adamant the only way they can grow stronger is if they receive more revenue from the NRL and have a say in how the cash is distributed.
The NRL clubs say if their funding demands are met, they could expect to at least break even. It was also suggested the NRL would no longer have to prop up Gold Coast and Newcastle.
There is a growing appetite for the constitution to be changed as it's considered to no longer be in the best interests of the game, because it virtually rules out anyone who has had an involvement in the NRL, including the likes of former ARL chief executive John Quayle.
