AusLeisure

With its coffers swelled by fund from it record broadcasting rights deal, the National Rugby League (NRL) is to pump more than $200 million into growing rugby league over the next four years.

Announcing a record profit of almost $50 million for 2013, the NRL now plans to boost the game in the face of stiff competition from rival codes.

Despite its $1.2 billion broadcast deal, the game's governing body today (Monday 24th February) conceded TV ratings and crowd figures had fallen slightly last season - attributing the slump to the poor performance of its better supported teams.

Revealing its 2013 performance, the NRL outlined a series of challenges facing the game, including the ongoing shadow of doping being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

The NRL enjoyed a $49.6 million profit last year with Chief Executive Dave Smith saying that much of that will be returned to the game to foster its development.

Smith explained "we have significantly increased our investment in the game following the new broadcast rights deal.

"With 100% of all revenue generated by the media rights deal invested in the game.

"Our results show that rugby league is investing more in the game than ever before and now (it) is truly positioned to enter a period of growth that will make it the strongest and healthiest it has ever been."

The NRL also invested $2.2 million into new governance measures in 2013, including the Integrity Unit and drug testing in a response to off-field indiscretions and the ASADA affair.

Smith added "we are happy to take these challenges on because we are a bigger and better business as a result of that."

7th February 2013 - DRUGS AND CRIME REPORT ROCKS AUSTRALIAN SPORT 

20th August 2012 - RUGBY LEAGUE SET FOR BILLION DOLLAR TV RIGHTS DEAL

19th June 2009 - RUGBY LEAGUE CROWDS ON THE RISE

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