The criticism that the NRL doesn’t possess a single asset, while the AFL owns a stadium, has become a truism in this coronavirus pandemic world.

But the NRL do own an asset and the AFL’s Marvel Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands has now become a liability insofar as government bans on the assembly of people mean it can’t be rented out for sporting and cultural events and incurs fixed costs.

The NRL owns nrl.com, a digital service which was set up to provide a one-on-one relationship with fans; a platform to deliver “non fake” news; a mechanism to sell tickets and merchandise and, finally, a potential source of competitive tension with broadcasters over media rights. The AFL has a similar product in afl.com.au.

Significantly, the coronavirus pandemic has given nrl.com the opportunity to become a catalyst of a long-term deal between the ARLC and broadcasters for future broadcast rights.