The NRL has been warned the move by clubs to rest players at the back end of the season may be used as a weapon by potential rights holders ahead of the game’s next broadcast deal. It comes as more mass changes loom on the final weekend of the regular season.
Penrith’s decision to sideline 16 players for Thursday night’s clash with Canterbury has severely diluted what shaped as a blockbuster, while Melbourne Storm are resting a host of players for Friday night’s meeting with the Roosters after all but sealing a top two finish. The NRL is powerless to prevent teams from putting uninjured players on ice and we may see further disruptions in the last round of the competition.
The NRL has been warned the move by clubs to rest players at the back end of the season may be used as a weapon by potential rights holders ahead of the game’s next broadcast deal. (Image: Getty Images)
If the Warriors secure a top four berth at the weekend, they are set to rest players for their last-round encounter against Manly rather than have a full-strength squad fly to Australia and back a week out from the finals. Canterbury may also have the luxury of giving players leave passes for the round 27 showdown with Cronulla should they be secure in the top four, while likely minor premiers Canberra face a similar opportunity ahead of a trip to Brisbane to meet the Dolphins.
Even the eighth-placed Roosters could be in a position to roster players off for the last round meeting with arch-rivals South Sydney should their finals position be confirmed by the end of this weekend. That would do severe damage at the box office, with the Brandon Smith drama threatening to add even more spice and tension to an already fiery rivalry.
Bye round theory shot down amid resting drama
Leading media analyst Steve Allen, of Pearman Media, warned the loss of star players at the pointy end of the regular season could be held against the NRL as it continues to court broadcasters ahead of the next TV rights deal in 2028. But he doesn’t believe adding a bye weekend before the final series – as the AFL do – will solve the problem.
“The resting of players will probably be used as a negotiation technique (by prospective rights holders),” Allen told Yahoo Sport Australia. “Although there is the likelihood of a significant drop in audience ratings for the next two weekends – around minus 10 per cent-plus – having a bye weekend might be a solid debate but it’s (definite) lost ratings and potential lost revenue.
“No one will want that.” NRL boss Peter V’landys is confident the next broadcast deal will net the game close to $3bn.