'We want to globalise it' - NRL chief on Super League investment
The chief executive of Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) has dismissed concerns that a multi-million pound investment into the Super League could result in a talent drain from the UK game as "completely unfounded".
Andrew Abdo has been in the UK engaging with British officials regarding a potentially groundbreaking agreement between the two premier rugby league competitions.
"What we're trying to achieve is to make rugby league in the UK and Europe as strong as possible,"he told .
"That's the exact opposite of it become a feeder pathway program.
We're doing this to grow and to attract players in this market from other codes and to make sure that there's good investment in pathways to produce even stronger talent for the competition here, for it to thrive."
Abdo emphasized that the NRL is pursuing a partnership with the Super League rather than a takeover.
However, Leeds Rhinos chairman Paul Caddick has expressed reservations about the investment, stating,
"we have no intention of being swallowed up".
"If Australia takes value out of the English game, the gap will only get bigger and we will only become subservient to them, which I would never agree to to,"Caddick said.
"It all boils down to that first question of 'why?', and confirmation that it's not just about extracting our riches or to be enablers for them."
When these concerns were raised with Abdo, he responded,
"I certainly understand that in the absence of information, people sometimes default to the negative.
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."
Rugby league has seen considerable growth in Australia over the last decade.
Caddick also highlighted that the sport faces greater challenges in the UK and Europe due to football's dominance, cautioning that the NRL is not "a magic ticket or Father Christmas".
In reply, Abdo stated,
"We understand competition and we're not arrogant and we approach this with hunger and humility.
We fully understand the challenges that exist in this market. And part of the reason of taking our time and listening is the respect for what this landscape holds, both in terms of challenge and opportunity. And then we want to understand from that base how much growth is possible."
Who would be in charge?
Hull KR are the reigning champions of the Super League.
The NRL is governed by an independent body, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), and it aims to replicate this model in the UK if it proceeds with investment. Abdo indicated that any deal depends on
"assurances that we can actually have the ability to implement the gameplan".
When asked if this implied that Super League club owners would need to relinquish some decision-making authority, he explained,
"you can phrase it as giving up control or you can phrase it as being clarity and autonomy of decision-making.
The ability to execute [a plan] comes from very clear governance that allows those decision-makers to act in the long-term best interests of the game overall, as opposed to short-term and as opposed to thinking about different constituents.
The reason we're doing this is we believe in the sport and we want to globalise it. And if the two major competitions in the world are able to co-operate and work together, that can only help and strengthen the game of rugby league.
In order for us to be able to invest you absolutely need strong and clear governance and I think that's part of the challenge that exists at the moment - so that's something that we're obviously working on."
Despite increases in attendances and audiences, Super League club owners collectively face losses approaching £20 million annually.
Last year, Peter V'landys, chairman of the ARLC, warned that the UK game was heading for a "train crash" if it failed to find ways to increase revenue.
No formal offer yet - but negotiations 'encouraging'
The NRL has not yet made a formal investment offer, but Abdo noted that an agreement
"needs to happen relatively quickly"in the coming weeks, as both leagues negotiate new broadcast contracts.
Rhodri Jones, head of RL Commercial—the organisation managing the sport's commercial rights in the UK—described the negotiations as "encouraging".
"The sport is open minded to investment,"Jones told .
"The NRL is a natural fit. They are probably the front leaders in the negotiations that we are currently having with various parties.
I don't think this will be a long process because we've got some planning to do for the 2027 season, and the earlier an investor can come on board, the better it will be for everybody."
Jones added that the Super League was already on a growth trajectory and that investment would
"turbocharge"this progress.
Regarding whether the ARLC seeks to influence the composition of an independent commission to oversee the Super League, Jones said,
"That's their demand at this point in time.
But at the moment, you could say that that is a 'red line', because it's important that the UK game is represented. There is independence in our governance structure already.
I think there is a workable solution between the two parties that can result in the ARLC having their comfort in that they they are in some control, but equally there is still some control in the UK game here as to how the game is running this territory.
This isn't a takeover. This is an investment, but it's also a partnership. Yes, there is capital available, but there's also synergies with the two competitions playing in the same sport, but also expertise that the NRL can bring to the game in the UK.
It's about the globalisation of the sport. It's about securing the future of the sport and making sure that the sport can be seen in as many territories as possible.
One of the key parts of the conversation was, 'This cannot just flow straight through to the clubs into players' wages and inflate players' wages'.
Yes, it goes to clubs, but it also has to service the centre. So it has to look after the women's game, the wheelchair game, and also the community game."
