THE AFL has been branded an "arrogant interloper" after it tried to shift a Gold Coast rugby league match that was scheduled to go head-to-head against North Melbourne`s next home match at Carrara.The AFL contacted Fox Sports six weeks ago asking the pay TV channel to prevent a Round 16 NRL clash between the Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra being played on the Gold Coast on Saturday, June 28, the same night North Melbourne hosts St Kilda at Carrara.
The NRL schedules its matches in blocks of about six weeks, meaning the time and day a team plays is decided as the season progresses.
Fox Sports rejected the AFL pressure and scheduled the Titans in their preferred hosting timeslot of 5.30pm Saturday, ensuring the two codes will have their first head-to-head Gold Coast tussle on the same night. The Kangaroos match, played 15km up the road, starts at 7.10pm.
The AFL plans to establish a 17th team on the Gold Coast. Revelations of its bid to strong-arm the NRL will do little to foster relations between the warring codes.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said: "I just find it unbelievably arrogant that they would do that. I got information that the AFL had contacted Fox Sports to try to make sure the Titans game didn`t occur on the same day as the Kangaroos-St Kilda clash.
"The Titans` preferred playing day is Saturday and we weren`t going to let them be pushed out of their preferred timeslot by interlopers, which is precisely what they (AFL) are in that region."
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane denied any attempt to tinker with the NRL scheduling.
"I`ve spoken to the guys who deal with our broadcasters and our CEO Andrew Demetriou. No, we haven`t spoken to Fox Sports about what they do for the NRL with the telecasting," he said.
"We had programmed North and St Kilda on that day late last year, so that`s all we`re in control of. What another sport does has nothing to do with us."
But Annesley said: "I have checked with my sources. I`m not suggesting for a moment that Mr Demetriou knew about it but I have absolutely no doubt it happened."
Annesley said the NRL would not grant the AFL an armchair ride into rugby league`s dominant markets in Sydney and southeast Queensland.
He said he was confident the Titans match would outdraw the AFL game, a safe bet given the Kangaroos attracted little more than 6000 at Carrara a fortnight ago, while the Titans have averaged more than 23,000 to their six Gold Coast matches this season.
"There is no doubt we would smash them head-to-head in southeast Queensland," Annesley said.
"The AFL are being aggressive with their push into western Sydney and southeast Queensland, and we`re not just going to roll out the red carpet for them. I can assure you, we`re not going to give them the clear air they are looking for."
Titans managing director Michael Searle said he was dismayed by the AFL`s request.
"I just feel it`s disrespectful," Searle said. "Who says the AFL have the power to shift an NRL team? When did they think they were such a powerhouse that they could affect such things in a state where they are a minority sport?
"It`s a ridiculous display of arrogance. This will be the first time that the two codes have gone head-to-head so it`s going to be a good litmus test to gauge the level of support for AFL on the Gold Coast."
Meanwhile the Southport Sharks yesterday threw their support behind the GC17 bid team, and became the fledgling AFL club`s first financial backer by handing over a $150,000 donation.
Sunday Herald Sun
