NRL: Warriors and New Zealand league to reap benefits of new funding agreement

Warriors managing director Jim Doyle says the new funding agreement will allow clubs to invest more into resources and he expects there will be spin-off benefits for the national game. Photo/Getty.

The Warriors financial future looks bright and New Zealand rugby league is set to benefit after the NRL signed off on a historic funding agreement that will help strengthen the game at every level.

The NRL announced yesterday it will give $100 million extra per year to the clubs from 2018 to 2022 and the same amount will be invested to grow the game from the grassroots to the elite level each year.

Clubs will also receive grants totalling 130 per cent of player payments over that period, and will be well placed to invest off the field to become stronger and more professional than ever before.

The landmark deal follows the $1.8 billion broadcast rights deal secured by the ARL Commission last week.

Warriors managing director Jim Doyle says the much welcomed cash injection will allow clubs to invest more into resources and improving their businesses, and he expects there will be spin-off benefits that will help develop the game throughout New Zealand.

"It's very positive. There will be significant monies to invest into the grassroots and hopefully the New Zealand Rugby League will be a recipient of that and therefore it will help grow the game around the country," said Doyle.

"Clubs can really become sustainable and start to invest in themselves and hire more people to grow memberships and drive better game day experiences and all those sorts of things.

"We can look at how we can invest more into computer systems to help with our database and we can hire a couple more people to really drive improvements across the whole business and organisation.

"It's good, not just for the clubs, but also the fans and members as well. We can try and get more memberships from all over the world and it will really just help us become more professional and grow the business."

The players are also set to benefit as the increase in funding will see the salary cap rise along with player salaries.

The fact the game's governing body has not imposed any restrictions on how the cash should be spent will also ease the financial burden on the likes of Warriors owner Eric Watson.

"The current Collective Bargaining Agreement runs out at the end of 2017 so there will be negotiations with the Rugby League Players Association, but there's no doubt the cap will go up," Doyle added.

"So therefore the players will gain some more benefits from the game being successful.

"But for us, it basically takes a bit of pressure off the club and owners like Eric, who has had to put money in over the years.

"This will make it a bit easier for the club to hire people that it couldn't afford to hire in the past to hopefully take things to another level."

The Australian Rugby League Commission and clubs will now sign a Memorandum of Understanding while the agreement is formalised.

The final package will include agreement on other non-commercial issues and will form the basis for each club to hold a perpetual licence to play in the NRL competition.

ARL Commission chairman John Grant said that, with the agreement in place, the ARLC and the clubs can now focus on the future as one.

"We are now both intent on making the game stronger at every level... from the grassroots through to the elite levels," he said.

"This is a unique opportunity for rugby league and we are going to work together to make the most of it."