Greenberg, who has been locked away in discussions with the NSW government this week, was coy on the NRL's stance despite the governing body previously making no secret of its desire to build a new stadium at Moore Park. While the email sent to clubs was devoid of detail, Greenberg announced the NRL's intention to include ANZ Stadium in the funding allocation, but the level of investment remains unclear. Calling for unity: NRL CEO Todd Greenberg. "In terms of government's priorities for the stadium investment we remain committed to ensuring we get a network of rectangular stadia – and that includes ANZ," Greenberg's email said. "I, and the commission, have heard the views of NRL clubs and communicated them to Government. The Government has been very clear that there is no opportunity to seek funding to be directed to suburban venues and that their funding is focused on consolidating investment into a network of Tier 1 stadia. Ultimately the Government's decision will take account of our priorities as well as the preferences of other rectangular codes who will commit content to the stadia." The five-point plan obtained by Fairfax Media on Thursday outlined the clubs' list of funding priorities, which included a new stadium at Parramatta and a $600-$700 million renovation to turn ANZ Stadium into a 72,000-seat permanent rectangular venue. Next on the priority list was a preference to upgrade Allianz Stadium ($450 million) instead of a knock-down and rebuild that could take up all of the $1.2 billion being pledged.

The stalemate among the NRL and its clubs has led to threats by sports minister Stuart Ayres to redirect funding to oval-ground sports, which has prompted Greenberg's plea to clubs for a unified approach as they await the return of premier Mike Baird from an overseas trip on Monday. "While there has been a lot of debate inside the game and in the community about where government should invest, the one thing we all agree on is that rugby league venues in Sydney need upgrading," Greenberg said in the email to club chief executives. "I am determined to avoid the funding being diverted to other sports – put simply, rugby league has been lapped by oval based sports in securing investment over the last two decades. "Any situation in which our lobbying efforts to make stadia investment a priority result in the oval sports stepping in to divert available funds to their facilities is not an acceptable outcome to me." Fairfax Media understands there are plans to build a new stadium that would be 55 per cent on SCG Trust land and 45 per cent on Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust land. This would require the SCG Trust to give up land on the existing site of Allianz Stadium, with the stadium to be built over Rugby League Central and Driver Avenue. While it's likely new stadium plans will also sit over Kippax Lake, Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore insists there will be plenty of resistance to such a proposal. "It's incomprehensible that the government would waste $1.2 billion in the city when Allianz rarely gets anywhere near its current capacity and the rugby league clubs and the wider Sydney community say the investment's urgently needed in the west," Moore said. "I agree with them. If the NSW government attempts to build a new stadium over Kippax Lake and Moore Park, I can promise the community will fight it all the way. Six years ago, the previous Labor government tried something similar and they were soundly defeated – with the support of the current prime minister."

Dear CEOs I wanted to update you on the stadia issue which has been the subject of recent meetings. As you know, we were unable to meet the Government's deadline of providing a minimum 65 home & away game commitment by last Friday. You will have no doubt read various reports suggesting that the funding commitment by Government is not guaranteed, and that alternative priorities are under consideration.

My focus this week has been on ensuring that the investment by government is kept on the table. I've been involved in discussions across government to ensure that this opportunity is not lost to the game. While there has been a lot of debate inside the game and in the community about where government should invest, the one thing we all agree on is that rugby league venues in Sydney need upgrading. I am determined to avoid the funding being diverted to other sports – put simply, rugby league has been lapped by oval based sports in securing investment over the last two decades. Any situation in which our lobbying efforts to make stadia investment a priority result in the oval sports stepping in to divert available funds to their facilities is not an acceptable outcome to me. In terms of government's priorities for the stadium investment we remain committed to ensuring we get a network of rectangular stadia – and that includes ANZ.

I, and the Commission, have heard the views of NRL clubs and communicated them to Government. The Government has been very clear that there is no opportunity to seek funding to be directed to suburban venues and that their funding is focussed on consolidating investment into a network of Tier 1 stadia. Ultimately the Government's decision will take account of our priorities as well as the preferences of other rectangular codes who will commit content to the stadia. Obviously in any scenario where we are required to provide a commitment of additional NRL club content then we will be discussing this with you as a priority. I expect further developments once the Premier returns early next week. Regards

Loading Todd Greenberg