AusLeisure

The NRL has today launched its Strategic Plan for 2018-22, a blueprint which will set up the game’s long-term future.

Five years after former Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman John Grant revealed a plan for the future of rugby league, within which, according to critics, almost none of the key performance indicators were met, current postholder Peter Beattie said the game has to grow to survive with the the strategic plan was aimed at expanding the game at all levels.

Beattue said a key pillar was participation, with the new ARL Commission setting this as a priority.

The former Queensland Premier explained “as I have said consistently since taking the role, if we don’t grow our game, it won’t expand – and if we don’t attract more young players, then our game dies.

“And we are not going to allow that to happen.”

 Beattie said the NRL would work with the State leagues and clubs to ensure there are various forms of the game – contact and non-contact – for boys and girls who want to play rugby league.

He said other key elements of the Strategic Plan include:

• The women’s game – the NRL announced details of the first NRL Holden Women’s Premiership, to be contested in 2018. First announced last December as a six-team completion, the Premiership will now feature four teams in the first year – the Broncos, Dragons, Roosters and Warriors.
• Stadia – new stadia are already being built at Parramatta and Townsville and the NRL has a Memorandum of Understanding with the New South Wales Government for new venues at Sydney Olympic Park and Moore Park.
• Expansion – the NRL has put expansion back on the table, with the new State Cup competitions providing a pathway for clubs seeking to be part of the NRL in the long-term. It will be open for teams from areas such as Perth, Country New South Wales, New Zealand and Ipswich.
• The Immortals concept has been revived with up to two new selections later this year. The NRL will also revive the Hall of Fame concept.

In addition, the NRL has launched a new digital business which will provide a new platform for fans to watch and consume rugby league into the future.

NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said that, when combined with the new pay deal for players, club funding agreement, increase in player payments and community programs, the game is embarking on an exciting new era.

Greenberg advised “these key pillars will change the face of the NRL in the long-term.

“They will see men’s and women’s competitions being played in modern, rectangular stadia, specially designed for rugby league.

 “We will work hard to encourage more young people - boys and girls - to take up rugby league and remain in the game.

“And we will celebrate our past by recognising the very best in our game through our awards programs.”

Beattie stressed that the plan launched today is just the beginning, concluding “the new Commission has only just been formed and we will build on this strategy in the months and years ahead.

“It is going to be implemented and updated regularly…we have to keep expanding our vision for the game.” 

Images: Youngsters enjoying rugby league (top) and Peter Beattie (below).

26th March 2018 - SALARY CAP BREACHES LEAD TO NRL FINING MANLY SEA EAGLES $750,000

12th March 2018 - BRISBANE BRONCOS OPEN NEW TRAINING AND COMMUNITY HUB

6th February 2018 - NRL CLUBS CUT PRICES FOR ANZ STADIUM FIXTURES

21st December 2017 - SEVEN NSW NRL CLUBS TO SHARE $50 MILLION FOR ‘CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE’ 

15th December 2017 - LOCAL CONSORTIUM PURCHASES GOLD COAST TITANS FROM THE NRL

24th November 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS MASSIVE REBUILDING PLANS FOR ALLIANZ AND ANZ STADIUMS 

3rd November 2017 - NRL PLAYERS TO BENEFIT FROM MASSIVE PAY RISE 

21st July 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES ‘COMMERCIALITY FRAMEWORK’ FOR STADIA 

13th April 2017 - NRL RENEWS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE IN NSW AND QUEENSLAND

14th February 2017 - NRL REDUCES OPERATING LOSSES TO $2.6 MILLION IN 2016 

5th December 2016 - NRL CONCERN OVER DECLINING RUGBY LEAGUE PARTICIPANT NUMBERS

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.