V’landys claims the NRL is “at the peak of its powers” with record revenues and TV audiences in Australia, and this year it conducted the second of five annual season-opening trips to Las Vegas. Designed to grow the game’s international fanbase, it featured a fixture between Warrington and Wigan.
It was while in the US in March that the NRL reportedly began talks to purchase a 33% stake in Super League, with clubs guaranteed more central distribution of media and sponsorship income, but on the basis that it would take management control.
V’landys said that there is no concrete offer in place for the NRL to buy into Super League and would not be drawn on what stake he wants, but insisted that any deal would depend on the creation of an independent governing body.
Asked about the NRL taking a Super League stake, he said: “We could. That’s an option, if that’s what they want us to do.
“There has to be structural corporate governance change for that to happen. You need an independent body to operate the competition and that’s one of the reasons Australia has been so successful in rugby league. It’s totally independent.
“You’ve got to have independent decision making, because [it] always acts in the best interests of the game as a whole, and not for individual interest groups.
“We’re just here out of loyalty to Mike Danson and Simon Moran to listen, and if there is a way we can help, we will help. But we’re not here to force ourselves on anyone or be part of anything. We’re here to listen and hopefully be able to assist.”
Super League’s Grand Final was watched by a crowd of almost 69,000, the highest attendance since 2017, with TV viewing figures up 22% on last year.
V’landys also saw Australia beat England 26-6 at Wembley on Saturday, in front of 60,812 fans, a record crowd for a Rugby League Ashes Test in the UK.
He argues that such numbers are proof of the interest in the sport in England – but feels the game’s authorities have not helped themselves, suggesting a city the size of London should have a team in Super League.
London Broncos, who are subject to Australian investment with Kangaroos legend Darren Lockyer among their backers, missed out on a place in the recently expanded Super League for next season.
Instead, Bradford Bulls were promoted earlier this month at the expense of Salford Red Devils under the competition’s grading system, and Toulouse and York selected to join them by an independent panel.
Prior the announcement, the Broncos had already appointed former South Sydney Rabbitohs boss Jason Demetriou on a three-year deal to become their head coach and signed former Australia international Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tonga hooker Siliva Havili for next season.
V’landys said: “London should have been the first one that they picked, because if you’re going to market something, you’ve got to market to a populous city.
“You’ve got to grow your revenues. Sponsors would be interested in London. And they’ve lost that opportunity, in this round anyway. So yeah, they’ve got to be able to market the game better than they are at the moment… they haven’t got the structure right at the moment to be able to take the product forward.”
When asked about Super League’s expansion to 14 teams, V’landys said: “Are they going to get extra broadcast revenue? Are they going to get extra eyeballs? Are they going to get extra participation? That hasn’t been explained.
“There’s been no plan. They’ve got to have a road map and a plan moving forward for the next 10 years. Because 10 years comes very quickly and unless you have that plan, you’re going in all directions with no purpose.
“There have certainly been some positives. Their attendances have improved, their ratings have improved, but you’ve also got to have a very strong financial base and at the moment that’s not there.”
