Are you not entertained? NRL walking a fine line between integrity and mass appeal

May 23, 2026 — 9:30am

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The NRL, like most major professional sports, sits uncomfortably on the horns of a dilemma: increasing the entertainment or maintaining its integrity?

More specifically, is the dominant responsibility of a sporting administration to provide enjoyment for fans via a high-scoring, close contest which yields record crowd revenue and broadcasting income?

Or is it to ensure officials adhere strictly to the rules of the sport, no matter the match situation?

Todd Greenberg, a former NRL boss and now the chief executive of Cricket Australia, says, “All sports leaders continue to be challenged by the need to drive revenues that ultimately fuel their entire sport from top to bottom, whilst also ensuring the integrity of the sport is protected and remains true.

“It is a delicate balance that requires careful consideration and a long-term approach that recognises both history and legacy.”

It is an issue which has special relevance to the upcoming State of Origin series that starts in Sydney on Wednesday.

So often has Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys declared that the game is primarily about entertainment that he could be channelling Russell Crowe in Gladiator, when Crowe, as Maximus, turns to the shocked and silent Roman crowd after defeating a team of warriors and asks, “Are you not entertained?”

Perhaps Blues officials expected a similar response from the NRL when they protested a first-half penalty blitz in the second Origin match in Perth last year. The match ended........

© Brisbane Times