What would NRL-run Super League look like amidst latest reports

[josie andrews]

After reports that the NRL will consider investing in Super League, what could that competition look like and how realistic is it?

Noise about Super League securing investment from Down Under has been around for a long time with the Australian Rugby League Commision chief Peter V’landys speaking recently to confirm that the NRL would be happy to invest, but only if requested.

Reports from Michael Chammas for The Sydney Morning Herald have now revealed that the NRL are set to “consider” a purchase of a 33% stake in the competition on the condition that they would have “complete administrative control” from 2028.

Chammas reports that a “secret meeting” between Wigan Warriors owner Mike Danson, Warrington Wolves owner Simon Moran and NRL higher-ups, including Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys, took place in Las Vegas to trigger the spark of this possible investment.

It would be on the clubs to hand over the keys, something that recent events such as the club-commissioned Strategic Review of the RFL suggest unlikely given the apparent desire for club power, but what could an NRL-run Super League look like?

One of the key reasons behind this development now, outside of the glaring financial issues in rugby league in England and the meeting between Danson, Moran and the NRL, is that the TV deals for the NRL, Super League and the international game all come up for renewal at the the end of 2027.

A united front of the game in the southern and northern hemisphere could maximise that deal and help further the sport massively.

According to Chammas’ report, various models of what Super League would look like under the NRL’s control are up for debate with one of those being a 10-team competition.

That would feature eight English clubs and two French meaning that Catalans, and Toulouse, would be safeguarded despite current noise that their future is uncertain.

It’s also reported that six of the eight English clubs would comprise St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC and Hull KR, with all apparently eager to be involved. That would leave just two spots for English teams up for grabs.

Another possible route would be for the NRL to “start a breakaway competition”, whilst NRL clubs are apparently expressing interest in having affiliations with ‘NRL Europe’ teams.

The sport is set for some major changes in the coming months and this could be among the biggest dominoes to fall.


https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/what-wou ... ts-103351/

[Charriots Offiah]

Something has to change we can’t keep going down this road of financial insecurity and mismanagement.

[fozzie58]

Something has to change we can’t keep going down this road of financial insecurity and mismanagement.

But Nigel wood is here to save the day isn’t he?

[the pieman]

Something has to change we can’t keep going down this road of financial insecurity and mismanagement.

But Nigel wood is here to save the day isn’t he?

The clubs mooted as part of the "New Super League" include Saints and Leeds who both love the fat controller with the sounds they have been making recently, so i cant see them going against the grain. McManus doesnt have the nads by the looks of it to upset the applecart. Everytime he says he is, he goes against it (is he Italian by any chance ), and Hetherington cant upset Yorkshire either, even if he is planned to go at the end of this season

[josie andrews]

Matt Peet’s NRL verdict after ten-team competition reports

The Wigan Warriors head coach was asked about the reports during his weekly press conference.

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet admits the NRL’s interest in Super League is worth exploring following reports that the competition down will consider purchasing a 33% stake, although would want complete administrative control.

A 10-team competition was also a part of the reports from Australia this morning, with the NRL keen to take over the running of the game in the northern hemisphere - although are coy on making the first move between the two competitions.

It follows secret meetings between Australian club bosses and Wigan and Warrington owners Mike Danson and Simon Moran respectively in Las Vegas. NRL chief Peter V’landys has also shared his interest in working with Super League, after his competition boasted their most lucrative and successful season yet in 2024.

Wigan and Warrington were the first two Super League clubs to be a part of the NRL's blockbuster event in Sin City, playing at the Allegiant Stadium earlier in March as part of a quadruple-header, with two NRL matches and an international clash between England Women and Australia Jillaroos.

South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly and Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson are said to be the key drivers from the NRL side, having previously worked at Super League clubs, with the backing from V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.


“I think it’s one to explore,” said 2024 quadruple-winning coach Peet. “The NRL have obviously done amazing things over there, that hopefully we can tap into and learn from. But it’s also got to be on the right terms for people in British rugby league. It certainly needs something.

“It’s probably not going to be the right thing for everybody, but I’d always be open to listening to an idea. If it’s the right thing to drive our sport forward, in terms of on-field and off-field successes, we’ve got enough intelligent people in our game to listen and then to make a decision about what's best.”

It remains to be seen if clubs in the northern hemisphere would be willing to hand over control to the NRL, while there is a strategic review ongoing, led by former Rugby Football League boss Nigel Wood.

Warrington, Wigan, St Helens, Leeds, Hull KR and Hull FC have been mentioned as clubs included in the potential 10-team revamp by the Sydney Morning Herald this morning, alongside Catalans Dragons and Toulouse, with two more spaces available.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... ommunities

[josie andrews]

Why rugby league is so fractured as ‘pie and pea lunch’ overshadows Wigan Warriors’ Paris plans

The sport of rugby league in the northern hemisphere is at a major crossroads and two events over the past week highlight that.

Whilst both events certainly have merit in and of their own circles, it is the most recent of those events that is the one that should be championed and advocated for as the true direction that rugby league should be going in.

The event in question has gone somewhat under the radar but its existence has been widely reported by French publication L’Indépendent

On Tuesday, April 8th, senior figures from Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors met in Paris to discuss the possibility of playing a game in the French capital in 2026.

2026 will mark 20 years of Catalans playing in Super League as well as the competition’s 30-year anniversary with the game set to mark both occasions and underline the importance of a French presence in Super League, at a time when the discourse is suggesting that they do not contribute to the competition.

Debate over how much Catalans contribute has raged in recent weeks but L’Indépendent’s article puts the facts and figures forward bluntly to state the case for Catalan’s inclusion in Super League, an article that Wigan Warriors just so happened to share on their social media.

The French outlet attacks the “narrow-mindedness of certain leaders”, accusing them of being “locked into protectionist thinking” whilst outlining that Catalans are paying up half-a-million euros in 2025 to pay for rival team’s travel expenses.

They also went on to lay out the facts regarding the average attendance at the Stade Gilbert Brutus across the past four seasons with that figure of 8,636, far eclipsing the four English Super League sides that they listed in Huddersfield, Salford, Castleford and Leigh.

Catalans coach Steve McNamara also hit out at critics of Les Dracs in recent weeks and even referenced the second of these two events that shape this article and highlight the immense split in rugby league.

After confirming that Catalans paid for Salford’s travel for last Friday’s Challenge Cup game, McNamara, who was championing Catalans looking out for themselves on account that “nobody else will”, said: “Whatever they were talking about at the meeting at Batley we will see what the outcome of that is but for me there is only one solution and that is to strengthen this club and continue doing so regardless of what anybody else thinks.”

That Batley meeting in question saw Championship and League One clubs meet under Nigel Wood’s ‘Strategic Review’ with the Bulldogs revealing that “healthy views were exchanged”.

Believed by some, and potentially McNamara, to be on the agenda was Catalans Dragons and what they bring to Super League – which quite clearly is a lot given the prospects of taking a game to Paris next year.

As for the Batley meeting, rugby league fans have found amusement in the second line of the statement which confirmed: “All Club representatives then enjoyed a Haighs Pie & Peas lunch,” with fans pointing out the contrast between the two meetings.

If rugby league truly is at a crossroads then opting for the path that takes the sport to the heights of playing in front of tens of thousands in Paris is surely more viable than the one that offers the heights of, as L’Independant would say’ “protectionist” thinking over a Pie and Peas lunch.


https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/why-rugb ... ns-103374/

[josie andrews]

James Graham issues radical change plea to save Super League with damning Salford call

Graham has not held back.

James Graham has issued a passionate plea to the NRL to make 'radical change' to the Super League competition – otherwise 'it's going to die.'

Speculation continues to rise that the Australian powerhouse is set to buy a 33% stake in Super League, with the desire to hold a 10-team competition, but with one catch: it wants total administrative control by 2028.

And Graham, speaking on his podcast, The Bye Round, has stated that change can't come soon enough.

Currently, rugby league in the U.K. is under a 'strategic review' overseen by former RFL chief Nigel Wood, with clubs meeting at Batley last week to discuss a range of topics, from the make-up of the Super League structure to French duo Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique's involvement in the competitions.

But Graham has slammed that process, with clubs holding too much power in the say of the game, one which needs some serious governance and leadership from its governing body.

The former St Helens prop, one of the best of his generation who went on to have a superb NRL career, used Salford Red Devils as an example, questioning why the financially stricken club gets a say on the running of the game.

He said: "If we don't act on the Super League like yesterday or the day before yesterday, it's going to dwindle into us not having a competition.

"Salford, what are they doing having a say at the table? They have a say? They've been on the bones of their a--- since I've been a supporter of the game.

What are Salford doing having a say in how that competition is run? They're broke. They always have been.

"If we (Super League) don't act and if we don't get the help that we need, then the competition that I was a fan of since I was at the age of 7 and that I got to play with the team that I supported since that age – if we don't get that help and get some radical change, it's going to die."

Graham's podcast guest Brandon Smith then asked what the NRL can do to make radical change, with the former Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons front-rower speaking of a 'cull' of teams, something which won't be popular but is needed for the good of the game.

Graham continued: "There's an argument that there's not enough in the talent pool and there are too many teams that are too close together in terms of their proximity.

And asked if that requires a cull, he added: "Possibly, yes, and I get that this is going to upset people, but you know how I feel about being a fan; you've seen that through me so many times, and it's great when things are going well and we have these big rivalries, but unless you've got room to grow... there are parts of England that have teams, and they've been successful. A club like Featherstone, for example, they've won the Challenge Cup, and they've won the Division One Championship, and we can't let go of this history; we'll get more than 4,000 fans to a game in Division One.

"Where are you going to grow? I've got friends at that club, and they're not in the Super League, but they're going to have to make some really tough decisions around what the competition is actually going to look like and who meets the criteria.

"They have this bull---t licensing criteria that has obviously failed. Salford are the prime example. It's going to require sacrifice from everybody – clubs, players, and fans – in order to keep the game alive."


https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... ge-1083687

[PJCE]

Whatever the final outcome, if any, I would hate it to become a draft system involving top clubs having to forward players to lower teams. I may be wrong but I believe this happens in American Football.
It would produce a better all round “product” but one which would be artificially arrived at.
Also our star players could be off to Australia in greater numbers. Something needs to be done with the game but I have reservations about linking up with the NRL.
Better publicity would help.

[Mike]

Whatever the final outcome, if any, I would hate it to become a draft system involving top clubs having to forward players to lower teams. I may be wrong but I believe this happens in American Football.
It would produce a better all round “product” but one which would be artificially arrived at.
Also our star players could be off to Australia in greater numbers. Something needs to be done with the game but I have reservations about linking up with the NRL.
Better publicity would help.

That only happens in "expansion drafts" where new teams are created. The standard drafts only involve college players, so I suppose you could do that with the academies, but i doubt anyone is going to agree to that.