7th Tackle: NRL's $30m loan application hits a major snag

It’s common knowledge the NRL needs a $30 million loan to balance the books this year.

The news was first revealed in this column in April, but four months down the track no funding has been secured.

MORE 7TH TACKLE:
* NRL's $30m loan application hits a major snag
* Kiwis enter life of Brian
* Manly's $300k reason to move to Christchurch
* The real reason for Green's ref blast
* How close Cam Smith came to joining the Broncos
* Bird Snr sets record straight on confusing Broncos rumours
* Mounties kick in to give Leukaemia the boot

We’ve now heard the NRL has been unsuccessful in its initial attempts to secure the money, with one lender knocking back their application.

Sources have told us League Central wanted to borrow $50 million, but was knocked back. A spokesman declined to respond to that claim directly, but added the NRL remained in talks with various lenders. One source of finance could be the clubs themselves.

Senior figures at the most powerful four – Roosters, Bulldogs, Broncos and Cowboys – would have no problem raising $30 million and loaning it to head office.

The catch is they would want something in return to ensure their investment is spent wisely – seats on the ARLC.