No judgement can be made on NRL TV deal until the money is in the bank

Let's put some balance into this TV rights discussion

The NRL's free-to-air deal was lauded only a week ago for giving those fans without pay TV an increase from two games to four live games in prime time viewing slots. It also delivered a huge increase in the value of the TV and digital rights packages. Add that to the fact the NRL is taking back control of the scheduling from the broadcasters and this is a great deal for everyone in our game, especially the fans. It's four live games a week for FREE!!!

We can presume also that there are people in the NRL involved in these dealings who have a strategy. One part of that strategy would be free-to-air TV rights. That part of that strategy has been successful. I assume they are now working toward an end goal that will give the game a deal it deserves. We should wait until then before passing judgement.

It's simply amazing that the same journalists currently slamming NRL CEO Dave Smith, were completely silent during the years of the previous administration when they signed pay TV deal after pay TV deal with broadcasters that were grossly below market value because their employers owned the game. The minute the media company was removed from the ownership of the game, the TV broadcast rights for rugby league more than doubled. Go figure, eh! The massive underfunding that occurred within the game during the period rugby league was owned by a media company did far more damage to the game than anything that could be thrown up at this current administration.

Clubs need to be kept financial

What's important to know is that the 16 NRL clubs are united in working towards the best result for our code. It is also important that the 16 NRL clubs really do need to stick together to negotiate the best financial deal possible for themselves, because they have been totally underfunded up to this point in time. I'm not hiding the fact either that we have real issues with how the NRL administration is currently running this game. Despite the NRL generating more revenue than ever before in the history of the game, they are spending more and more money on a growing administration and frivolous pursuits which bring nothing to the bottom line for the clubs. We have four clubs virtually under NRL administration and all but one or two clubs are losing money every year trying to run a professional rugby league program. This is not good enough. Things need to change and they need to change immediately. But I am supporting our code 100 per cent and I think the rugby league public should be rallying behind our game.

Suggestions that the media will get behind the AFL and shove it down our throats until we like it too should not scare us in any way, shape or form. I don't know about you, but it makes me want to stand up and fight for our code even harder. I have no issue with AFL. It's a great sport and many Australians love it. Good on them. As far as I'm concerned there is room enough for all of us. Our battle is not with the AFL. But let me tell you this, if they think they can kill off rugby league, especially in NSW and Queensland, simply because they get newspapers to bombard us with AFL coverage, then I say they need to think again.

We need to stay strong. Provided the NRL gets its head around how rugby league should be run, played, developed and promoted in our heartland areas, this game will always be the No.1 football code in NSW and Queensland. State of Origin football is the No.1 TV event on the sporting calendar. Provided our NRL clubs are kept strong and well funded, I guarantee our popular club brands and their long history will continue to engage the sporting public and inspire young men to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. Rugby league will be around forever.

Cowboys on verge of something surprising

Since the competition moved to 12 home and away games a season per club in 2002 there have been only two instances of clubs winning 10 away matches in a regular season. On Saturday night, the Cowboys travel to Melbourne to play the Storm in search of their 10th away win of 2015. It seems extraordinary to write about the Cowboys setting records for away wins in a season, when for so long they struggled to win regularly outside of Townsville, but they are now just one win away from matching the feats of Penrith in 2003 and the Roosters in 2013, both of whom claimed the minor premiership and the NRL title in the years they won 10 away matches. To join those clubs, the Cowboys will need to overcome a pretty ordinary record in Melbourne, where they have won just twice since entering the competition in 1995, but the Cowboys in 2015 are a different outfit to many who have flown south to represent them in previous years, so I doubt that record will be on their minds come kick off time. There is much on the line in this big game on Saturday night. A tenth away win for the Cowboys should secure them a top-two spot, and a huge shot at the minor premiership, whilst the Storm will be desperate for victory, after their shock loss on Monday night to the Knights.

Ultra consistent Roosters earn premiership lead

One factor overlooked by most, if not by all, following the Roosters attaining top spot on the premiership table, for the first time this season, has been their extraordinary ability to be competitive in every match they have played in 2015. Yes, they have won their last 10 matches, and their last 13 of 14, which in itself is highly meritorious in this era, but no team, for a very long time, has been in a position to win every game in a regular season as the Roosters have this year. The Roosters lost by eight to Souths in round 2, but were behind by 28-26 with a minute to play. They again lost by eight points in round 5 to the Sharks when behind 14-12 at the 74th minute. A golden-point loss to the Broncos in round 6 was followed by a one point loss to the Storm in round 7, when the winning field goal was kicked in the dying minute. Their fifth loss of the season, and their fourth in succession in April, was a 14-12 loss to the Dragons on Anzac Day, when the last eight minutes was scoreless, and their only other loss in 2015, was a 10-4 loss to the Sharks in round 13, when the score was at 8-4 with two minutes to play. Conversely, their two rivals for the minor premiership, Brisbane and North Queensland, have both lost four matches each by double figures this year, further emphasising just how well the Roosters have performed in 2015. That level of consistency has taken them to the premiership lead and to deserved premiership favouritism.

Better times ahead for Raiders

There will be plenty of teams that miss the eight this year that will rue the loss of matches they felt they could have won, and look back at the season as one in which they underperformed. The Canberra Raiders were handed a highly favourable draw for 2015, only needing to play Roosters, Broncos, Storm, Rabbitohs and Bulldogs once, whilst also enjoying the benefit of a pretty healthy roster for most of the year. So it must be very disappointing for them to miss the finals for a third straight year, for the very first time in the club's history. They were in the eight through 14 rounds and have scored as many points as the competition leaders (only the Cowboys and Broncos have scored more), but with just eight wins to date, and only two at home, their season will end prematurely early next month. This is a roster, however, that promises far more in the future than their current win/loss record indicates. It is a young and very talented squad with strong depth, highlighted by the fact that their NSW Cup team leads that competition, and they should learn plenty from their defeats in 2015. The addition of Aidan Sezer in the halves will only enhance their future prospects, and Raiders fans are entitled to a fair level of optimism as they look ahead to next season, despite how they might currently be feeling.

Phil Gould is the Executive General Manager of the Penrith Panthers and commentates on Channel Nine's rugby league coverage.