Club CEOs, chairmen and general managers have their say on the NRL leadership and the most contentious issues in the game.
Credit: Illustration: Jamie Brown
The Sydney Morning Herald approached all 44 NRL club chief executives, chairmen and general managers to take part in an anonymous poll covering the big issues in the sport, with 25 responding. This is how the game’s most influential figures view its burning questions as the NRL launches its season.
NRL club bosses have called for more teams and fewer games – split over two conferences – in their say on the future of the sport.
The majority of club bosses who completed the survey have called for the NRL to expand to 20 teams, with each team to play the other once in a 19-round season which would reduce the workload of players by five games per year.
It comes as the NRL prepares to head to market to sell the broadcast rights from 2028, with the majority of clubs setting the NRL a target of $2.4 – $2.8 billion for five years – a significant uplift in the current deal worth around $2 billion over the same timeframe.
The survey is a huge show of faith in NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, who experienced an uplift in his rating for the second consecutive year, turning an 82 per cent approval rate in 2024 to 100 per cent this year.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys scored a 4.3 out of five in voting, securing his highest score in three years on the back of a season that included the NRL’s venture into Las Vegas and the announcement of Papua New Guinea to join the competition in 2028.
While off the field matters appear to be going well for the NRL, on the field there is nothing but admiration for the Penrith Panthers on the back of a fourth-straight title.
Nathan Cleary finished No.1 in the “player you most want to sign” category for the second consecutive year, with Penrith also earning the title as the greatest team of the modern era.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary sits behind Craig Bellamy as the second-best coach in the game.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the game at the moment?
Broadcast deal: 28%
Expansion: 24%
Growth of AFL: 16%
Player agents: 12%
- 2024: Concussion 18%, Player agents 15%, NRL relations 15%,
- 2023: Player agents 24%, NRL relations with clubs/players 24%
- 2022: Junior development 57%, Player agents 29%
- 2021: COVID 24%, Player agents 20%, Junior participation 20%
- 2020: Future broadcast deal 40%, player agents 25%
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo over the past 12 months?
The verdict: Andrew Abdo has enjoyed a good couple of years in charge of the NRL. His popularity with club bosses is improving.
Do you still have faith in Andrew Abdo to continue as chief executive of the NRL?
Yes: 100%
No: 0%
Previous results: Yes 82%, No 18% (2024)
The verdict: After the tension of a protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiation with the Rugby League Players’ Association, Abdo has bounced back to claim unanimous support from the clubs. It’s a strong show of faith almost five years on from his appointment.
Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys.Credit: Jamie Brown
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of the referees over the past 12 months?
Result: 3.4/5
- 2024: 3.3/5
- 2023: 3.5/5
- 2022: 3.5/5
- 2021: 3.6/5
The NRL’s current broadcast deal is worth an estimated $2 billion over five years. How much do you think the NRL should get for the 2028-2032 broadcast deal?
$2b: 4%
$2-$2.4b: 24%
$2.4-$2.8b: 28%
$2.8-$3b: 24%
$3b plus: 20%
The verdict: With DAZN in the process of buying Foxtel, the NRL will head into broadcast rights negotiations looking to secure a new player in the market. Almost every club boss expects an uplift in the broadcast rights, with the majority hoping for at least a 20 per cent rise in revenue.
Would you be happy for the NRL to split up the broadcast deal and sell to more than two bidders?
Yes: 88%
No: 12%
The verdict: The NRL has already indicated to clubs that it is willing to sell off the sport to more than two broadcasters in the hope of capitalising on major events like State of Origin, finals series, grand final, Las Vegas and Magic Round. The clubs have no issue with that, with 88 per cent voting in favour of the prospect of the sport linking with different streaming and free-to-air partners.
Would you support the NRL acquiring shares in the Super League?
Yes: 60%
No: 40%
Previous result: Yes 61%, No 39% (2024)
The verdict: There’s been a slight drop-off in the number of clubs who think the Las Vegas experiment will yield a financial windfall, but the majority of teams still believe in the concept.
What crowd figure would you consider a pass mark for the NRL at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium? The 2024 crowd figure was 40,746.
40,000: 8%
45,000: 8%
50,000: 48%
55,000: 0%
60,000: 8%
Sell out: 8%
The verdict: With four games of rugby league – doubling the amount from last year – the clubs are expecting the NRL to attract at least 10,000 new fans to the game. Almost half the clubs believe a crowd of 50,000 should be the NRL’s target. There are almost 9000 fans coming from England and New Zealand respectively.
For how long should the NRL continue to open the season in Las Vegas/USA?
Stop after this year: 12%
See out the five years: 84%
Continue beyond five years: 4%
The verdict: Good news for those who haven’t travelled to Las Vegas to watch the NRL. The concept has the backing of the clubs.
If Perth is handed the next licence, which region should be the host of the 20th team?
NZ South Island: 60%
Brisbane: 12%
Central Queensland: 8%
NSW Central Coast: 4%
South-east Queensland: 4%
Auckland: 4%
Melbourne: 4%
19 teams is enough: 4%
What do you think of the NRL’s decision to introduce a team in Papua New Guinea from 2028?
It will fail: 28%
It will be a success: 32%
Doesn’t matter, as long as the clubs are financially compensated: 40%
What is the ideal length of the regular season once we reach 20 teams?
19 rounds (play each team once): 40%
20-22 rounds: 20%
23-25 rounds: 24%
26-28 rounds: 16%
Would you support a conference system in the NRL once the competition has 20 teams?
Yes: 64%
No: 36%
Do you agree with the NRL’s decision to reject the Western Bears private consortium in favour of dealing directly with the Western Australian government to start its own team in Perth?
Yes: 84%
No: 16%
Do you agree with the NRL’s prerequisite for the Bears to be linked to the team in Perth?
Yes: 56%
No: 44%
Do you think the NRL should provide clubs with salary cap exemptions for signing players from rugby union?
Yes: 44%
No: 56%
The verdict: The NRL is still weighing the possibility of providing clubs with dispensation for taking players from rugby union. Most clubs don’t want the NRL to follow through with it despite the Roosters and Titans both recruiting players from rugby union.
If you had to sign a new head coach who doesn’t currently hold a head coaching position in the NRL, who would you sign?
Billy Slater: 30.4%
Brad Arthur: 13%
Josh Hannay: 13%
Dean Young: 13%
Previous results: Billy Slater 32% (2024), Cameron Ciraldo (26%)
Is your coach under pressure to retain his job if your team misses the top eight in 2025?
Yes: 4%
No: 96%
The verdict: Assuming the club bosses are telling the truth, this could be one of those rare seasons where a coach doesn’t get sacked mid-season. Only time will tell.
Previous results: 2023: Nathan Cleary (29%), Joey Manu & Cameron Munster (17%) 2022: Tom Trbojevic (27%), Nathan Cleary (23%) 2021: Cameron Munster (22%), Harry Grant (13%) 2020: Tom Trbojevic (22%), Jason Taumalolo (17%),
Previous results: 2024: Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles) 19%, 2023: Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers) 24%, Adam Reynolds (Broncos) 26%
Previous results: 2024: Moses Leota 24%, 2023: Dylan Edwards 42%
Which team do you most love to beat?
Broncos: 28%
Roosters: 24%
Panthers: 12%
Eels: 12%
Sea Eagles: 8%
Previous results: 2024 Broncos 22%, 2023: Roosters 32%
The verdict: The majority of clubs disagree with the NRL’s stance against Ezra Mam after he crashed his car under the influence of an illegal substance, injuring the people in the other vehicle. The clubs believe the NRL went too soft on Mam with the nine-week ban.
Which team do you consider the sleeping giant of the NRL?
Bulldogs: 33.3%
Warriors: 12.5%
Wests Tigers: 8.4%
Manly: 8.4%
The verdict: Despite rocketing up the ladder in 2024, the Bulldogs are still widely regarded as the sleeping giants of the NRL. A third of club bosses voted for the Bulldogs, with the inconsistent Warriors finishing second after gaining a glimpse of their potential popularity with a breakout year in 2023.
Which team that didn’t feature in the 2024 finals series is most likely to make the top 8 in 2025?
Broncos: 52%
Dolphins: 12%
Rabbitohs: 8%
Titans: 8%
Previous results: 2024: South Sydney (37%), 2023: Broncos (38%), 2022: Sharks (52%)
Will you move to retain your players well before their contract expiration to combat the arrival of expansion teams?
Yes: 88%
No: 12%
How would you rate the feat of the Penrith Panthers over the past four years?
Greatest team of all time: 8%
Greatest team of the modern era: 92%
The verdict: While the Rugby Leagues Players’ Association won’t like to hear it, most NRL clubs would like to terminate the contract of players after one strike for an illegal substance.
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate RLPA boss Clint Newton’s representation of the players?
Result: 2.8/5
Previous result: 2.5/5 (2024)
The verdict: Despite the low score, Newton has improved his overall rating by 0.3 from the previous year. Last year’s poll was conducted after a protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiation with the NRL.
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