Rugby Football League chairman Brian Barwick has hit back at criticism of the new television deal by Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan and Salford's outspoken new owner Marwan Koukash.
Lenagan accused the RFL of railroading the clubs into voting for a new five-year contract worth around £200million and received support from Koukash, who issued a broadside at the game's administrators when he launched the Red Devils' season on Tuesday.
"I have been disappointed by the public response of a small minority of Super League clubs to the securing of a new broadcast agreement with our long-term partners, Sky Sports," Barwick said in a statement.
"Without question, Sky have provided an outstanding service to the game in producing both live and associated programming that has been the envy of many other sports. And they have done it for two decades. "Therefore to retain this long-standing broadcast partnership, and at significantly increased financial terms, is indeed a great win for rugby league.
"Also, the terms of the new contract which starts in 2017 are so beneficial that they give Super League clubs, Championships clubs and the community game a fantastic, secure and long-sighted platform from which to build their futures and develop our great sport."
Both Lenagan and Koukash criticised officials for failing to put the television deal out to tender, with BT Sport now on the scene, with the latter saying: "You don't marry the first girl you meet", and both men claimed pressure was put on clubs to vote on the new deal, which does not kick in until 2017.
Barwick responded: "After hearing a comprehensive presentation on all aspects of the new deal, the clubs themselves voted to vote on the proposal.
"Most of the clubs recognised that the best result for the immediate future of the game was in front of them, as indeed the significant majority that voted in favour of the offer from Sky Sports underlined. The other clubs were able to vote against it as they saw fit, which is appropriate.
"What I feel isn't appropriate, though, is the tone and content of the criticism by some of the Super League clubs who have their own reservations about the deal. "This broadcast contract is the biggest in rugby league history and actually offers Super League clubs an uplift of 63 per cent in annual distributions.
"It is also the latest in a number of upbeat initiatives we have enjoyed in recent months: with such a strong wind in our sails, I will not stand by and allow the sport to be blown off-course."