Nine chief executive Hugh Marks says he is “very impressed” with his initial dealings with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and wants to see the 16 clubs properly funded to ensure the NRL “has a great long-term future that warrants our investment in it.”

Nine, the publishers of this masthead, and the NRL have been involved in a series of meetings over the past week to mend their fractured relationship and discuss potential resumption of the competition. The broadcaster accused the governing body of years of mismanagement and wastefulness in a stinging statement delivered a fortnight ago, a broadside that heaped even more pressure on embattled NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.

Greenberg has been frozen out of meetings with Nine as V’landys takes the lead in discussions with Marks, while Fox Sports has also been included in talks regarding season structure and the future of their respective partnerships.

Speaking for the first time about his discussions with the NRL, Marks told 2GB that the network was committed to broadcasting the sport.