The NRL's possible takeover of Super League could gather pace in coming weeks as executives head to the UK for talks. 1 million for all teams, as part of a package. Club owners would have to relinquish control of the game in return for this investment.
Andrew Abdo, the NRL's chief executive, says no deal is possible without Super League clubs giving up the power they currently have. He warns that clubs must relinquish control to convince the NRL to invest and allow the sport to flourish under a new independent commission. Abdo adds that a deal depends on assurances that the NRL can implement the gameplan, requiring clear governance, and that there would need to be a governance change with an independent governing body if the NRL becomes partners in the UK game.
What we're trying to achieve is to make rugby league in the UK and Europe as strong as possible.
Super League coach Daryl Powell says the competition is more open than he has seen in a very long time, with five teams level on points at the summit. Super League could move back to a winter competition to allow year-round global broadcasting if the NRL agrees a deal, with Andrew Abdo saying the NRL would consider a calendar switch as a key part of a potential investment package. Andrew Abdo says there are pros and cons to switching Super League to winter, such as not clashing with Premier League versus creating a global calendar.
Reactions from UK stakeholders include concerns about the NRL's intentions. Andrew Abdo says concerns that NRL investment into Super League could drain talent from the UK are completely unfounded, and he adds that the NRL is trying to make rugby league in the UK and Europe as strong as possible, not create a feeder pathway program. Andrew Abdo says the NRL is seeking a partnership with Super League, not a takeover.
I certainly understand that in the absence of information, people sometimes default to the negative.
Leeds Rhinos chairman Paul Caddick says they have no intention of being swallowed up by NRL investment, and he warns that if Australia takes value out of the English game, the gap will only get bigger and Super League will become subservient. Paul Caddick warns that the challenge facing rugby league is greater in the UK and Europe due to football dominance, and the NRL is not a magic ticket. Andrew Abdo says the NRL understands the challenges in the UK market and approaches with hunger and humility.
No formal offer has been submitted yet, with Abdo likely to return next month to speak with clubs in more detail.
But certainly, the fears of the Super League becoming a feeder league to the NRL couldn't be further away from the hypothesis of why we're doing this.
It's a really good question. These are the things that need to be worked out. And the thing is there are clear pros and cons for it in both cases. Obviously playing in the summer here like Super League does, you're not clashing with the hugely popular Premier League. But equally, creating a global calendar is pretty compelling. So as I say, there are pros and cons. That's not something we really have a fixed view on yet though. Those are the things that need to be worked out. But ultimately the answer will be: what is going to be what our customers want and what's going to service our existing fans and help us win new ones.
I think you definitely need the ability to have independent decision-making. So yes, there would need to be a governance change if we were going to become partners in the game here. There needs to be separation between allowing an independent governing body to make those tough decisions.