BY KANE AUSTIN & AJ NASH

Rugby league fans have taken to social media to hit back at Channel Nine’s threats that it doesn’t need rugby league as the network continues its campaign to cheapen the NRL brand despite it being Nine’s highest rating product.

The Sydney Morning Herald, owned by Nine, published a story on Tuesday afternoon reporting comments from Nine CEO Hugh Marks at the Macquarie Australia Conference 2020.

“It’s not a given that NRL has to be part of our future,” Marks said.

“It has to just pay its way like all of our content does, and if it doesn’t, well … again, we are less reliant on that as a revenue source.”

Funnily, no product has paid its way for as long as rugby league has for Channel Nine.

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It comes on the back of reports that Nine was keen to devour the NRL’s digital arm at a drastically cut price.

The NRL digital arm could be worth as much as $2 billion to rugby league according to former ARLC chairman John Grant which is why it’s not surprising Nine want to see its death as it competes with Nine’s digital assets.

Rugby league fans saw right through Marks’ comments with many in the sport not aligned to Nine ready to see the game cut all ties with the network.

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One punter wrote, “Well say goodbye to having the top rating programs for the year every year then….”

Another: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Hugh.”