Channel Nine won't be making its quarterly broadcast payment to the NRL on April 1, but has outlined a desire to renegotiate its current rights deal to extend beyond 2022.

The Herald has been told by a source close to discussions that Nine's preference is to renegotiate its current deal and extend its broadcast partnership with the NRL in a revised organisational structure that would see the clubs play a major part in the running of the sport.

Nine, the publisher of this masthead, hopes the current predicament will allow the game the opportunity to think outside the square, and potentially allow clubs a greater say in operations.

The news comes on the same day as the NRL was forced to delay a crisis meeting with clubs on Friday, which was meant to provide them with an update of its plans for a postponed competition.