Rugby League and debt just go hand in hand

[Swans4ever]

Looks like it's not just the NRL that has big problems with debt it's also the English Superleage that is also up to their eyeballs in debt! Just shows being a rugby league player doesn't make you a good administrator!

English rugby league clubs drowning in $104m debt
Peter Badel
The Courier-Mail
February 01, 2013 12:00AM

Former NSW Origin player Brett Hodgson bursts through tackles for Warrington Wolves against Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League last season. Picture:Getty
THE days of big-money British raids on the NRL's stars are all but over as Super League clubs drown in debt.

An investigation by the BBC's Inside Out program found Super League's clubs are haemorrhaging a collective $104 million in debt, with only three or four of the 14 clubs running at a profit.

Leading UK league authorities say this year's World Cup, to be staged in England and Wales, will be crucial to reviving the code in the northern hemisphere.

The Super League has been an attractive proposition to the NRL's elite for decades, with Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Trent Barrett, Tonie Carroll and Jamie Lyon **** a posse of former Origin and Test stars to have played offshore.

But the increasing value of the Australian dollar, coupled with UK clubs' battle for survival, has negated the threat of the NRL's biggest stars being lost to Super League.


Former Canterbury fullback Luke Patten and ex-Kiwi Test utility Vinnie Anderson are owed an estimated $60,000 each by cash-strapped Salford.

Rob Wilson, a sports-finance specialist with a British university, probed the balance sheets of 11 of the 14 Super League outfits and was alarmed by the state of several clubs.

"Our findings indicate that there is a cumulative net debt of 68.5million ($A104.2m) **** the Super League clubs, with three or four clubs performing well," Wilson told the BBC.

"The overall effect of that is that the league itself will struggle for finance.

"Using a term like "rugby league is staring at the financial abyss' is not too harsh a thing to say.

"The remaining clubs appear to make annual losses which contribute to the net debt position, some just about wash their faces financially while others appear to have lost control of their spending.

"Two of the clubs examined had significant levels of net debt and, if these are removed from the sample, we can conclude an average net debt of around 3m ($4.6m) per club.

"Of course, there are clubs in the league structure who make a profit and it is their business model that others should seek to utilise."

The English RFL signed a deal with Sky television in 2011 that guarantees the sport an estimated 90m ($137m) over five years.

Several clubs remain at death's door and the Super League season starts tonight without a sponsor in place.

Leading Australian player agent Sam Ayoub, who manages Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston, says a career cameo in the UK is losing its appeal with NRL stars.

"With the pound as weak as it is, it's not as attractive as it used to be for Aussies to play in the Super League," he said. "That's why there are more British players coming to Australia."

Former Great Britain star Jonathan Davies, who had NRL stints with the Bulldogs and Cowboys, says this year's World Cup could help rescue the ailing UK game.

"Super League is a great product, unfortunately beset by financial problems," he said.

"It remains a great sport to watch but the challenge for league worldwide is obvious. They have to get the international game right and achieve what international rugby union has done.

"Get the media attention on to the international game. I do feel sometimes they have neglected that, which is going to be a huge problem."

[NRLCrap1]

You know the game's gone when it's original home is RS!

[cos789]

Bit of old news here. One by one not-so-super league teams having been going down.
Maybe they'll be renamed "reserve teams".

[Raiderdave]

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the VFL has ran up about 104 million in debt in the last 3 years trying to get the Thuns & Midgets up & operating
VFL clubs had combined debts of over 50 Million at the end of 2011

2 of its clubs
port poohsalot & the Paddle pop wions between them lost 9 Million last year

don't worry about the ESL shit for brains
worry about your own failing code

[Swans4ever]

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the VFL has ran up about 104 million in debt in the last 3 years trying to get the Thuns & Midgets up & operating
VFL clubs had combined debts of over 50 Million at the end of 2011

2 of its clubs
port poohsalot & the Paddle pop wions between them lost 9 Million last year

don't worry about the ESL shit for brains
worry about your own failing code

Yeah and where is the proof the AFL is 104 mil in debt when they have a 30 mil futures fund - RL just dreams about having that sort of money - you can't prove anything except garbage that spews from your mouth! AFL is in the money - is in the money - they have a lot of what it takes to get along!.......(NRL ........if I only had a brain!)

Hahaha - burning you up isn't it RD! And it really really really hurts don't it!

[Raiderdave]

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the VFL has ran up about 104 million in debt in the last 3 years trying to get the Thuns & Midgets up & operating
VFL clubs had combined debts of over 50 Million at the end of 2011

2 of its clubs
port poohsalot & the Paddle pop wions between them lost 9 Million last year

don't worry about the ESL shit for brains
worry about your own failing code

- RL just dreams about having that sort of money -

our bigger media rights deal says hi fuckwit

[NRLCrap1]

What bigger deal? The AFL won that battle by $150 million IIRC ($1.25 billion v $1.1 billion).

But we won't let the truth get in the way shall we?

[Raiderdave]

What bigger deal? The AFL won that battle by $150 million IIRC ($1.25 billion v $1.1 billion).

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sure cockhead

NRL

Aust TV
1.025 Bill

online
180 million

Kiwis
150 Million


bitches
whopped like em yuz was

[NRLCrap1]

Kiwis don't count, lame arse. And neither does online.

[Swans4ever]

Yeah but AFL didn't have to prop up struggling clubs like the NRL AND had money in the bank and higher sponsorship!

Hurts don't it RD

[piesman2011]

Dont be fooled by Dave's lies. NRL total for everything was 1.2 billion. While the AFL is close to 1.4 billion during a similar time period.

[Swans4ever]

Not fooled - just think him getting upset is funny! He's really hurting and he can't make the pain go away!

[adamj1300]

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the VFL has ran up about 104 million in debt in the last 3 years trying to get the Thuns & Midgets up & operating
VFL clubs had combined debts of over 50 Million at the end of 2011

2 of its clubs
port poohsalot & the Paddle pop wions between them lost 9 Million last year

don't worry about the ESL shit for brains
worry about your own failing code

more random figures againay Raiderdave?
why is it you persist with BS figures with being proved wrong every time

[NRLCrap1]

Yup yup yup yup!

Dave "Allen" and his comedy routine strikes again!

[ParraEelsNRL]

lol, chicken feed compared to other sports.

Some sports get into debt like that each week, yet they still carry on.

Weird eh.