Clubs called to secret meeting to delve into NRL’s performance

Fairfax reports today of a secret meeting between the directors of 12 NRL clubs who will be told that the Leagues surplus is $30 million short of what the NRL actually says it was. The only clubs not invite were St George Illawarra, Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Gold Coast – all percieved to have a conflict of interest due to NRL control or NRL directors on their boards.

It’s understood independent accountants have pored over the figures to reveal the surplus is about $20 million, a significant drop on the previous financial year. The figure doesn’t include expenditure reinvested into the game and represents about a 6 per cent profit on turnover. The figures form part of a presentation that will be made to the clubs to gauge whether there is sufficient discontent to challenge the NRL over the issue.