The NRL says it will pump more than $200 million into growing rugby league over the next four years, as it continues to jostle for space in a cramped sporting landscape against rival codes.
At a presentation on Monday the NRL outlined a number of challenges ahead of the game, including the ongoing ASADA scandal.
Despite a record billion dollar media deal the game’s governing body conceded TV ratings and crowd figures had fallen slightly last season and contributed it to the poor performance of the better supported teams.
The NRL enjoyed a record $49.6 million profit over the 2013.
NRL boss Dave Smith said much of that will be returned to the game to foster its development.
“We have significantly increased our investment in the game following the new broadcast rights deal,” Smith said.
“With 100 per cent of all revenue generated by the media rights deal invested in the game.
“Our results show that rugby league is investing more in the game than ever before and now (it) is truly positioned to enter a period of growth that will make it the strongest and healthiest it has ever been.”
The NRL also invested $2.2 million into new governance measures in 2013, including the Integrity Unit and drug testing in a response to off-field indiscretions and the ASADA affair.
“We are happy to take these challenges on because we are a bigger and better business as a result of that,” Smith said.