New NRL television deal dire for Kiwi league

The Kiwis have been shafted by the new NRL television deal. Photo / Getty

International rugby league is again being shafted by the game's self-serving money men.

The NRL's new $925 million television deal contains plenty that should please Aussie league fans but, cut through the PR-spin, and the reality that international league has been badly short-changed is clear.

From a Kiwi perspective the situation is dire, with the annual Anzac test abandoned, leaving the already cash-strapped New Zealand Rugby League without one of their primary revenue generating fixtures.

One of the "highlights" of yesterday's media release explaining the new television agreement, is that international league "will be given a new priority and will be played in a dedicated window after the NRL premiership season."

But that was already the case anyway, with the October-November period home to both the World Cup and Four Nations tournament.

Under the new deal, each year the second State of Origin match will be played on the Sunday of a stand-alone weekend of representative football, which will also include test matches between the Pacific Nations.

There are suggestions out of Australia that New Zealand could play a test, say, against England, on the Friday night, presumably in New Zealand, which would fit in nicely with the NRL's vision.

And while that plan might be palatable to the NZRL too, what is there to stop them from alternating that fixture between here and the UK?

As unappealing as such hit-and-run long-haul fixtures are what other options are there mid-season for the NZRL to earn some coin and capitalise on their status as the current No1 ranked nation?

No doubt NRL clubs would baulk at releasing their Kiwi and English players to travel around the world and back again in such a small timeframe, but under Rugby League International Federation rules they are obliged to do so.

New Zealand isn't the only country to be dealt a disservice though.

By staging test matches between the Pacific Nations on the stand-alone rep weekend headlined by the almighty Origin, the Island teams will not be at full-strength without their UK Super League players. Realistically, only players based in New Zealand and Australia will be able to participate.

Monday's press release also explains how the new changes to the NRL season will result in less disruption to the Premiership, and NRL CEO Dave Smith says: "In other words, we are preserving Origin as a marquee event of the year."

Sorry, but with the Kiwis having dealt to the Kangaroos in their last three consecutive tests it is time to recognise the validity of international football and make moves to position test matches as the pinnacle of the game.

Origin is a massive money spinner and the new television deal means even more dollars, but it is lacking a lot of sense.