NRL CHAIRMAN Peter V’landys had an online meeting on Friday with Super League club owners as the RFL pursues the possibility of the two governing bodies in their respective hemispheres coming together to forge a partnership that would benefit the game in Europe and further afield internationally.
The meeting followed a financial proposal that the NRL tabled last month that was valued at an estimated £35 million over five years, which would give the NRL management control of Super League but which was initially rejected by the clubs.
Friday’s meeting was an opportunity for V’landys to listen to the concerns of the clubs and to tailor a future agreement so that it can be made more acceptable to the club owners.
Neither side has given a press briefing to explain what, if anything, was agreed at the meeting but League Express understands that the RFL has now responded to V’landys with its own proposal based on the discussions that were held.
The general impression the clubs have given is that the meeting did allay some fears that still exist among some clubs about the implications of the NRL’s involvement in the Super League competition.
One likely outcome, if the NRL do have a major role in Super League, is a broadcasting deal with DAZN, the streaming platform that now owns Foxtel in Australia, which is a major broadcaster of the NRL competition.
With the clubs having agreed a deal with Sky Sports to broadcast three Super League games per week from next season, DAZN is likely to stream games 4 to 7 on its platform, in all likelihood offering more money than its competitor Premier Sports, who will broadcast this autumn’s World Cup matches.
The clubs are understood to be split on how much additional information they require before they would be prepared to sign up to a deal.
Wigan, Warrington and Hull FC are understood to be ready to bring the NRL on board immediately.
Leeds Rhinos are understood to be the most sceptical of the clubs in relation to what has been put on the table so far. And they are receiving support from another five clubs, thought to be Leigh, Wakefield, Bradford Huddersfield and Castleford.
Meanwhile in Australia the ARL Commissioners and NRL club officials are understood to have given the green light for V’landys to become the Executive Chairman of the NRL, combining his role as Chairman with that of chief executive that was, until July, occupied by the now departed Andrew Abdo.
V’landys was due to advise the ARL Commission on Sunday whether he intends to take up the new role which would give him unprecedented powers over the game in Australia and potentially in the rest of the world, if the agreement with the RFL goes ahead.
It means he will leave NSW Racing after 22 years.
Following the recently reported record $5.3 billion TV rights deal, V’landys will pursue the addition of a 20th franchise in 2029, an NRL Global Round in Japan and Hong Kong in 2028, and international expansion with the proposed investment in Super League.
ARL Commissioner Peter Beattie, the former Premier of Queensland and V’landys’ predecessor as Chair of the ARLC, confirmed that V’landys has the necessary support to become CEO and Chairman.
“Peter V’landys is a freak – he is the greatest administrator Rugby League has ever seen,” said Beattie.
“He is the best thing to happen to Rugby League.
“The ARL Commissioners are fully supportive of him and he would do an outstanding job as executive chairman.
“I also do believe he has the support of the clubs. They have never had so much money in their life. They have got a future.
“Peter is full of innovation, full of great ideas and he is a clear, decisive leader.
“I have never worked with anyone in politics or any other sphere of my life who has had the energy and vision of Peter.”