PETER V’landys has warned Super League chiefs they have three months to do a deal with the NRL and must hand over full control – or face a ‘train crash.’
But powerbrokers here have a common message – show us the details.
The NRL, which boasts huge broadcasting deals Down Under while Sky’s contract here is worth only £21.5 million, investing into the top flight here has been talked about for months.
SunSport understands nothing has been formally tabled but Australian Rugby League Commission boss V’Landys left clubs and the 13-a-side code’s bosses in no doubt about what he wants if they do.
He told the Triple M NRL podcast: “We’re prepared to do so, but if we did, we’d want to have total control because their corporate governance model is all clubs, and clubs all have self-interest.
“So you’ll never get good outcomes or decisions if the shareholders run the company. You’ve got to trust the board of directors.
“The way the NRL would do it is we would run the competition and they would benefit.
“We’ll invest heavily and we believe we can get a much better broadcast revenue.
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“The way it is at the moment, it’s heading for a train crash if there’s not some new investment. It’s not going to be an easy road but if they love the game and they want to survive in England, this is their best opportunity.
“We have to do it in the next three months – if we can’t, they’re going to lose that opportunity.
“The big owners, the smart ones, the good operators want us. It’s the littler ones that maybe won’t go with it.”
However, SunSport has been told by more than one powerbroker on this side of the world they cannot make a call if there is nothing to decide on.
They want to know how the NRL will work with them, how it will approach commercial and broadcasting firms and how much it believes its way will generate.
One said: “It’s nothing new. He’s said it before. Put your offer in then and let’s see.”
Another went further, questioning: “Why should we give full control to someone who doesn’t own us?
“There’s absolutely no detail. He’s just building pressure on us publicly to accept whatever terms he wants.”
Super League is owned by the 14 clubs and self-interest is seen as one of the reasons why the sport has seemingly contracted in recent years.
However, viewing and attendance figures are up, as is engagement with the brand.
One theory over V’Landys’ apparent pressure is a desire to secure a global broadcasting deal with DAZN, who now own Foxtel – which provides much of the £211 million a year it gets from TV companies – in Australia.
It is also thought the terms Down Under would get larger as talks over terms from 2028 approach a conclusion.
