Wood relaxed about lack of sponsorship

The governing body has secured a seven-figure, two year deal with Tetley’s for the Challenge Cup but both domestic competitions and the World Cup are still seeking principal partners.

The Championship is launched in Sheffield today, while Super League gets its unveiling in Manchester on Monday with opening games in each later that week.

When asked if there is a chance both could start without a sponsor, Wood admitted: “There is a possibility of that but the days of releasing our inventory at prices we are not prepared to accept are not going to be continued.

“We will hold out for the right deals safe in the knowledge that the alternative is continuing to develop our partnership packages commercially so that overall there is more money coming into the sport than ever before. We are not going to do the wrong deal quickly just for the sake of badging tournaments up.

“There’s lots of positive dialogue and I am confident and convinced the commercial revenue brought in in 2013 will be the most the sport has ever achieved.”

Super League clubs, of course, pulled out of the controversial “cashless” deal with Stobart after just 12 months. They had been urged by then RFL chairman Richard Lewis last January to accept that offer in preference to a cash bid from Betfair but Wood says there are “no no-go zones” now.

He also confirmed progress is being made on the deal to save cash-torn Salford City Reds with their potential new owner Dr Marwan Koukash hoping to complete the paperwork in time for the start of the season.

Elsewhere, Hull KR have given their own potential investor Tony Larvin a deadline of a week today to conclude a deal while Huddersfield Giants will be without England Knights back-row Michael Lawrence for up to three months with an ankle injury.

Australia full-back Billy Slater is optimistic he will be fit for Melbourne Storm’s World Club Challenge showdown with Leeds next month despite pulling out of the NRL All Stars match.