RFL CHAIRMAN Nigel Wood will lead the governing body’s response to the recent NRL offer for control of Rugby League in the northern hemisphere, taking over the lead role from interim chief executive Rhodri Jones.

The NRL is thought to have offered the equivalent of £35 million over five years in exchange for nomination rights for directorships of Super League’s governing body.

At a meeting of the Super League clubs last Thursday, which Wood chaired, the majority opinion was to reject the offer as it stands, but to go back to the NRL in the hope of negotiating a better offer.

Two club owners – Leigh’s Derek Beaumont and Wakefield’s Matt Ellis – claimed that the NRL’s offer was so far short of a sensible figure that the RFL should pull out of negotiations altogether.

However, others in the room were more confident that the situation could be rescued and League Express understands that NRL Chairman Peter V’landys is likely to fly to England next month so that negotiations can continue face to face.

By then it is likely that Super League’s negotiations for a new broadcasting contract will have been completed, which will at least remove one element of uncertainty that surrounds the negotiations, although with Sky bidding to buy three games per week, it isn’t yet clear what would happen to games four to seven.

Another complicating factor, however, is that the RFL has also received another offer, thought to be around £20 million from an American company that specialises in investing in undervalued sporting bodies, for what is thought to be 10 per cent of the equity value of RL Commercial Limited, although not on the basis that it would require a dividend income.

Although that offer is also subject to further negotiation, League Express understands that the RFL is likely to pursue that offer if it can’t make significant progress in its negotiations with the NRL.