The NRL has agreed to consider a proposal to buy a 33 per cent stake in the Super League on the proviso it gets complete administrative control of the struggling competition from 2028 as part of a bid to grow the sport internationally.
With the Super League competition and its clubs on their knees financially, NRL bosses agreed to a secret meeting with Wigan owner Mike Danson and Warrington owner Simon Moran in Las Vegas five weeks ago.
The wealthy owners want the NRL to rescue the competition and are speaking to all Super League clubs before submitting a formal proposal to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.
The NRL has made it clear that it will not approach the Super League to buy a stake in the competition, but would be open to striking a deal if the clubs are keen for the NRL to take over the running of the game.
The NRL’s willingness to listen isn’t motivated by a financial windfall, but rather a desire to grow the game in both England and internationally on the back of a decade of growth in the Pacific region.
That’s why the NRL has indicated it would be willing to sell back its share in the competition once it is set up and financially viable.
Australian Bevan French has starred for the Wigan Warriors.Credit: Getty Images
Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson and South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly have been the driving force behind the conversations, which have the support of Abdo and V’landys.
Richardson and Solly facilitated the meeting between the NRL and Super League clubs in Las Vegas. The pair have both been previously employed by Super League clubs.
All parties agree that there is a rare window of opportunity to strike a deal with the NRL, Super League and international broadcast rights all up for renewal at once (the end of 2027) for the first time.
It gives V’landys and Abdo the option to sell all the rights to prospective broadcast partners, exposing the competitions to new markets.
Under one of the proposed models being considered, the Super League could be renamed and see a 10-team competition run across two countries. The preferred model would see eight teams play out of England and two out of France.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality told this masthead that the six powerful clubs – St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC – have all indicated their willingness to be part of the revamp.
The two clubs in France would be the Catalans Dragons and a team in Toulouse. The remaining two spots would be filled by two English clubs that best fit a set of criteria that will be used to determine their involvement. The European competition is also seen as a potential gateway to North America.
Another option available is for the NRL to start a breakaway competition in Europe given the clubs own their intellectual property.
NRL clubs have been briefed, with some clubs expressing interest in being affiliated with an NRL Europe team. At least two NRL clubs, including South Sydney, are considering buying into a team as owners if the NRL was to take complete administrative control of the game.
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