The annual grant to clubs has not been increased in six years, said Ikin, while the 15 existing clubs did not have the benefit of using centres of excellence, which are readily available to most of the NSW Cup sides aligned with NRL clubs.
In NSWRL’s case, their proposal for additional funding was submitted to the ARL Commission in July last year.
If the ARLC did not meet the state bodies’ requests, Trodden and Ikin said it would have an impact on participation and pathways.
South Sydney chief Blake Solly and Penrith counterpart Matt Cameron emerge from NSWRL’s HQ.Credit: Nick Moir/SMH
“The participation base is growing, the game wants expansion at the elite level, and that comes from investing in community football and pathways,” Ikin said.
The new QRL boss said he would meet with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo on Wednesday. The NRL had wanted to sit in on Tuesday’s meeting with the clubs, but Ikin said that request was “politely rejected”.
The NRL had floated the idea…