After playing hardball with them during his tenure as chief executive of Nine Entertainment, Hugh Marks is set to join the NRL in a new consultancy role.

Reporting the development, Nine’s Sydney Morning Herald points to the acrimony between Marks and then NRL chief Todd Greenberg, credited with contributing to his departure from the League’s upper echelon.

In his new role, Marks will provide advice and leadership on the code's collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players. Working alongside Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys, he will lead negotiations with the Rugby League Players’ Association and chief executive Clint Newton.

The role follows a consultancy to Tennis Australia on international broadcast deals for the Australian Open. He is also working to establish a new production company with former Endemol Shine Australia boss Carl Fennessy, aiming to both create content and sell it into international markets.

Marks, who is 55, left Nine after rival News published paparazzi pictures of him picnicking with former junior executive Alexi Baker (above), with whom he is now reported to be expecting their first child in July. The former Nine managing director commercial took on a role at the NRL herself last April, as chief customer and digital officer.

At Nine, Marks drove the acquisition of Fairfax Media, retaining its metro publishing business while divesting Australian Community Media – including multiple Australian printing operations – to Antony Catalano and Alex Waislitz. Nine's newspapers are now printed by News Corp Australia.

Pictured: Hugh Marks answers questions at the Inform News Media Summit in 2018 (picture GXpress)