The NRL - For Money or Love?

By Adam Sutcliffe

The NRL should it be run for money or Love? Well as we look at both mainstream Sydney newspapers this morning it seems the game is about both.

These days when you read a newspaper article about Rugby League - there is usually a hidden agenda and a touch of politics behind which house publishes it.

Solicitor, ARL and NRL Director Colin Love coming under fire from News Limited publications about his large pay packets and legal bills to the Rugby League establishment. News journalist Josh Massoud going on the attack and hammering Love alleging 'conflict of interest' between his legal practice, it's ties to Rugby League at various levels and his most recent post as World Cup Tournament Director.

Now if you look at the stories in today's Sydney Morning Herald sport section - you will see a very different side to the Rugby League World Cup / Colin Love story. The Herald reports on the upcoming Rugby League World Cup and states 'The World Cup is set to be the first major rugby league event held in Australia for a decade with no News Ltd involvement - a fact that has antagonised the media giant, who formed a 50:50 partnership with the ARL to run the NRL as a compromise to end the Super League war.

The Herald publication also publishing comments from the RLIF (Rugby League International Federation) - that point out this World Cup is expected to draw the most revenue in Cup history and the wage that Colin Love is drawing is on par with performance and results.

Is this a mere co-incidence that because News Limited aren't involved with this World Cup and are unable to enjoy gate takings and revenue - that they should go on the attack and discredit the current organiser in Colin Love?

It wouldn't be the first time the News Limited house has played politics over Rugby League - they like to give it to Phil Gould almost weekly, firing barbs at the Channel 9 and SMH journo.

The News Limited group form part of the NRL partnership and are able to draw down large sums of money each year from the partnership. They do however subsidize many NRL clubs to varying degrees - putting some money back into the game. Theres no question that without the backing of News Limited the game of NRL wouldn't survive.

Problem is, the News Limited folks know this and tend to play the role of the school yard bully on a regular basis - possessing strong powers of the press to get their point across in political fashion.

The News Limited articles suggest Colin Love should perform his World Cup role for free. Now let's get real here folks, perform the role for free? They suggest that there would be many people who would take on the role out of 'love for the game'. Yes, maybe you might get Uncle Bill who runs the Under 6's Rugby League team at St Mary's to take on the job - sure, he would have the skills, knowledge, connections and efficiency to run a multi-national tournament?

Seriously, some of the stuff coming out of the News Limited house is scary. So when you read an article about your NRL team or your favourite player - make sure you get all the facts before totally believing what the Newspapers say. Because it's never black and white.

NRL News