Super League in danger of ‘train crash’ – NRL chief V’landys

The head of Australia’s NRL has warned that Super League will experience a “train crash” if it doesn’t find ways to increase its revenue.

The Australian Rugby League Commission’s chairman, Peter V’landys, told BBC Sport that the elite game in England needs to consider changing its governance structure.

He also disputed Super League’s lack of London Broncos in the upcoming season’s competition, saying that it had missed a significant marketing opportunity. He also questioned how it would long-term support an expanded 14-team structure.

On Tuesday in London, V’landys met with a number of Super League clubs and the RFL’s governing body.

He also stated that it was “an option” for the NRL to take a stake in Super League despite the fact that Warrington owner Simon Moran and his Wigan counterpart Mike Danson had asked him to “assist” the English game.

However, one of the most influential Australian sports figures in an exclusive interview said any investment depended on “independent decision-making,” and he also refuted the notion of the NRL setting up its own competition in Europe.

V’landys believes English rugby league is a strong product, but he worries about its business plan, with the current UK television broadcast deal set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.

If they don’t receive the broadcast revenue required to sustain a 14-team competition, he said, “All we’ve done is analyse the financial viability and I can see a train crash.”

“And it all comes down to the finances,” he said, “because eventually people stop wanting to put money in their pockets and suffer losses, and that’s what they’re going to be doing in the near future, unless they can increase their broadcast revenue.”

The RFL and RL Commercial, the organization that controls its commercial rights, confirmed they were present at Tuesday’s meeting with Super League clubs and V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

V’landys added that any deal would need to be made with the establishment of an independent governing body even though there is no specific offer in place for the NRL to buy into Super League.

When questioned about the NRL acquiring a stake in the Super League, he responded, “We could.” If that’s what they want us to do, that’s a choice.

For that to occur, structural corporate governance must be altered. One of the factors that has helped Australia win in rugby league is that you need an independent body to run the competition. It is entirely independent.

You must have “self-assured decision-making,” because it always serves the interests of the game as a whole and not just for individual interest groups.

We’re only here to listen to Mike Danson and Simon Moran because we’re loyal to them, and if there is a way to help, we’ll help. However, we are not here to impose our will on anyone or participate in anything. We’re here to listen and, hopefully, be able to assist.

Australia defeated England 26-6 on Saturday at Wembley in front of a record-setting crowd of 60, 812 spectators, in a Rugby League Ashes Test.

He contends that is evidence of the interest in the sport in England, but that he thinks the authorities have not done anything to improve the situation, suggesting a city like London should have a Super League team.

The London Broncos, who have Kangaroos legend Darren Lockyer among their backers, were unable to join the recently expanded Super League for the next season.

Instead, an independent panel chose Toulouse and York to join them after Bradford Bulls were promoted earlier this month at the expense of Salford Red Devils under the competition’s grading system.

Prior to the announcement, the Broncos had already signed former Australia international Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tonga hooker Siliva Havili for the following seasons. They also had already signed former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou on a three-year deal to become their head coach.

London ought to have been the first choice, according to V’landys, because it is necessary to market something to a thriving city.

You must increase your revenues, they say. Sponsors would be interested in London. And they have, in any case, lacked that opportunity in this round. So, yes, they must be able to market the game more effectively than they currently are because they lack the structure to advance the product.

When asked about the addition of 14 teams to Super League, V’landys responded, “Are they going to receive additional broadcast revenue?” Do they anticipate receiving more eyeballs? Do they expect additional participation? That hasn’t been explained.

There is no plan, they say. They must have a strategy and a roadmap for the upcoming ten years. Because 10 years is approaching so quickly, you’re going in the opposite direction without any discernible purpose.

V’landys has stated that NRL investment in Super League will bring the two sports closer together.

He said, “Ideally, you’d have the club in Australia and a brother or sister club in England, where they share the resources, the players, and so on. “

When asked whether that meant Super League clubs acting as feeder clubs, he replied, “No, no, no. I wouldn’t be disputing that one person is stronger than the other. They will be receiving us, and we will also be receiving them. It’s a two-way street.

So some of our young, emerging players could play in the Super League to develop, and some players could play in the NRL to develop. Therefore, it is not a feeder club. It is “sharing the resources.”

V’landys is adamant that any interest NRL may have in English rugby league would not result in the establishment of a separate European competition.

” No, “he said”. It’s philosophical to us. England should be strong, we want it. England must be as strong as possible if you want to have a global game. We don’t want them to wilt, therefore. We want their success to be seen.