The Australian Rugby League Commission announced on Tuesday it had reached an agreement to extend its 30-year partnership with Channel Nine.
The new five-year deal will see Nine continue as the NRL's free-to-air broadcaster from 2023 onwards to 2027.
With all three broadcasters - Foxtel and Sky TV New Zealand included - now committed long-term and investing record amounts over the next six years, it gives the NRL a whole new level of financial security to grow the game.
As for the fans, here's what the new broadcast agreement with Nine means.
Origin scheduling change
Nine have retained the exclusive rights to the broadcast of the Origin series but will do things differently in 2023.
After playing the second match of the series on a Sunday night since 2018, with the COVID-19 affected series in 2020 the exception, State of Origin will revert back to its customary Wednesday timeslot across all three games mid-season.
Initially, the Sunday night experiment was brought in to try and attract new audiences amidst diving TV ratings behind the NRL's showpiece event, although not all rugby league purists agreed with the move.
No mid-year Pacific Tests
Improving ratings wasn't the only factor behind the decision to begin playing the second Origin game on a Sunday night.
The stand-alone Sunday Origin match in the middle of the series had also paved the way for the NRL to host a representative round that included Tests between the men's and women's Pacifica sides.
With Origin to return to Wednesday nights in 2023 that will be no longer, with the NRL likely to shift the window for Pacific Tests back to the end of the season in the future.
With the Rugby League World Cup to take place from October 15 next year, there is a chance the mid-season Pacific Tests could still feature in 2022, although that will depend on border restrictions.
One positive behind the decision to move the window for Pacific Test matches is that it means players won't have to decide between state and country, allowing the likes of Jarome Luai to play for both New South Wales and Samoa.
New commentary team?
Though the news of Nine's extended partnership with the NRL didn't come with any official word on who will form their commentary team, there are enough rumours around to get an idea.
It's a widely known fact but sadly our days with Ray 'Rabs' Warren, the voice of rugby league, are numbered.
While the iconic caller refused to weigh in on his future in the commentary box ahead of calling his 45th NRL grand final back in October, Warren called less games than ever in 2021 and could hang up the boots (or microphone?) by the end of next year before Nine's new broadcast arrangement takes effect.
Warren's much-loved fellow caller and Parramatta great Peter Sterling has also retired after 30 years in the commentary box.
Though it's yet to be confirmed, Erin Molan has also departed the Nine team after nearly 10 years with the company.
It all paves the way for a new-look commentary team, with recently retired league greats like Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater, who have all taken on roles with Nine since hanging up the boots, expected to lead Nine's coverage into the future.
NRL expansion to broaden Nine's coverage
With the addition of the Dolphins in 2023 taking the regular season out to 26 rounds, Nine's new broadcast agreement with the NRL will see it screen three extra games on free-to-air from 2023 onwards.
In addition, Nine's radio platforms 2GB and 4GB will have exclusive rights when the Broncos and the NRL's newest side face off in a Brisbane derby.
The NRL have also flagged further amendments to the structure of the deal pending the introduction of an 18th team before 2027.
"If we do expand, we will revisit [the TV rights] cost," CEO Andrew Abdo said.
"Of course it is [possible an 18th team could come before 2028], absolutely. It's not out of the question.
"If the commission is satisfied with the business case for expansion, then we will sit down with our partners."
More innovative TV, radio and print coverage
Not only is Nine's long-term right deal set to deliver the game significant long-term revenue, it comes with a promise to improve the experience for fans when reading, listening and watching rugby league.
Abdo said it will lead to more innovative coverage of the game through Nine's television, print and radio platforms, giving more access to fans and bringing them closer to their favourite teams and players.
“It wasn’t just about getting a rights deal done, it was about having a partner that was committed to helping innovate in terms of the way the game is presented to fans and this deal does that," Abdo said.
“There will be mechanisms in this partnership that mean we will be able to work together on some of the changes that you will see take place so that fans get to see and feel the different way we want to take rugby league.
“We want to take the fans even closer to the field and even closer to the players, and some of the elements of what we have done in this deal will result in a much more innovative production and broadcast."
Greater NRLW coverage
The new agreement with Nine is also a huge win for the women's game.
With the NRLW competition expanding from four to six teams in 2022, with the potential for further expansion on the horizon, Nine has committed to expand its broadcast, digital offerings and reporting of the women's game.
“While Nine will continue to be the exclusive home of the game’s biggest events, we look forward to partnering with the NRL to help the continuing growth of the Women’s game and to develop targeted grassroots initiatives," Nine's head of sport Brent Williams said.
"We’re excited to collaborate with the clubs and players of all levels to deliver new broadcast initiatives and digital offerings across our multiple platforms.”
The NRL also hopes to add a second women's Origin match to the calendar in 2023 in hopes of eventually expanding it out to a three-game series broadcast on Nine.
“We’ve got some work to do with the respective parties, but our goal is to continue growing the women’s game and that also extends beyond Origin and includes state leagues, NRLW and even Test matches, the full elite pathways,” Abdo said.