NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has personally delivered a sales pitch to the Wests Group board of directors, but it might not be enough to convince them to buy the ailing Newcastle Knights.
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Wests is viewed by the NRL as the only viable option to take over the Knights, who have been bankrolled by the governing body since the demise of former owner Nathan Tinkler almost three years ago.
Confidential negotiations between Wests and the NRL have been ongoing since February, and on Wednesday night Greenberg visited the New Lambton licensed club along with the the NRL's head of club services, Tony Crawford, to meet Wests’ seven directors and chief executive Phil Gardner.
Wests Group chairman Owen Kilpatrick confirmed the board had met with Greenberg but insisted it was “no big deal”, just an opportunity to ask some questions about rugby league’s future direction.
“There’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge yet,’’ Kilpatrick said.
“We’ll wait and see. We’re still doing due diligence on certain things. It will all come to fruition down the track … hopefully whatever decision we make will be the right one.”
An NRL spokesman said Greenberg visited Newcastle but would not divulge the nature of his business.
The NRL put the Knights out to tender in September but were unable to find an individual or consortium they felt could guarantee sustainable long-term governance.
Wests were not involved in the tender process but the NRL have been courting them, off and on, since ousting Tinkler in 2014.
It is understood any deal would hinge on Wests contributing $10 million towards a rugby league centre of excellence – to be matched dollar for dollar by the state government.
Wests would also share running costs in a joint-venture with the NRL for an indefinite period, before eventually assuming ownership.
The Herald understands that both Wests and the NRL are dubious about the prospect of including the “Our Knights” community-ownership group if any deal can be struck.
