Crunching the numbers: The majority of the NRL's increased revenue has gone to clubs. Credit:Getty Images NRL income from these sources grew from $129.3m in 2015 to $144.2m, while broadcast income, spread over a five-year cycle, was stable. Non-broadcast income could have almost reached $150m but for the $4.5m loss in ticket sales from the dead State of Origin rubber in Sydney. While the NRL reduced its deficit in 2016, this does not include the losses of the two clubs it controls - the Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans. Their losses increase the deficit to $8.6m.

Future focus: Todd Greenberg says the NRL is reinvesting in the future of the game. Credit:Getty Images Club bosses seeking governance reform of the ARLC often ask where $2.5b has been spent since the ARLC came to power five years ago. The answer is that the accurate revenue figure is $1.6b and 60 per cent of this has gone to the players and clubs in annual distributions. NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said: "These results show we have invested a majority of revenue, both broadcast and non-broadcast, back into clubs and grassroots football. "Over the next few years, clubs and players will receive more revenue than ever before – and we will be investing more funds into grassroots."

For every $3 spent by the NRL on players and clubs, it spends $1 on grassroots development of the code, while clubs, such as the Raiders and Bulldogs, add to this via their licensed clubs. Total revenue to the NRL plus clubs in 2016 was $582m, with the NRL contributing $375m and the 16 clubs $207m. The AFL total income averages $900m a year, with headquarters and the 18 AFL clubs contributing half each. Despite the comparatively poor revenue-raising capacity of NRL clubs, which is the the legacy of living off poker machines for 60 years, headquarters has $134m in the bank. This will drop by $80m next accounting period as a result of a prepayment by Channel Nine of $55m and a recategorisation of assets.

However, this "future fund" compares favourably with the AFL cash balance of $55m in 2016, down from a forecast of $80m. While NRL administration costs rose 4 per cent to $21.5m, they generated the 12 per cent increase in non-broadcast revenue of $144.2m. However, this increase in yield will not placate the clubs seeking to put a cost-cutting scythe through RL Central, particularly with Greenberg foreshadowing increases in funds spent on digital production and integrity issues. Greenberg said: "We will also invest in our digital and integrity operations which are so important to the future of the game. "With the new television rights deal secured ($1.9b over five years), we will now look to generate maximum funds from commercial activities – and invest them in all levels of the game from grassroots to the elite."

Greenberg said the increased digital spend would come from the NRL ending its outsourcing agreement with Telstra and providing its own content. Increases in the allocation to the Integrity Department will be devoted to issues surrounding wagering, illicit drug use and salary cap surveillance. Clubs and states now receive 92 per cent of broadcast revenue but this will be reviewed by the end of the season to correspond with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Rugby League Players Association, to coincide with the new TV deal. In 2016, clubs received $160.2m in grants and the states received $30.5m. Loading

With NRL clubs spending far in excess of the annual grant, a soft cap on football department spending is inevitable. A cap on spending, such as the hiring of more assistant coaches, together with a drive to increase non-broadcast revenue, will solve rugby league's financial problems and validate the view there is more upside in the code than in any other professional sport.