Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys has addressed speculation that he could be finishing up as the boss of Racing NSW at the end of the year, admitting “everyone’s use-by-date comes along at some point”.
V’landys has juggled twin responsibilities for the past six years, making him arguably the most influential sporting administrator in the country. There has been renewed conjecture that he may be about to finish up in racing, with a view to potentially moving into an executive chair role in rugby league.
Speaking for the first time about his future, V’landys said he remained “undecided” whether he would continue with both jobs.
“I’ve done it for the last six years and nothing’s changed; at the end of the year I will look at it again and see what I’m doing for 2026,” V’landys told this masthead.
“I’m undecided, as I have been for the last six years. I always sit down, map myself out, but the day will come. It’s inevitable for everyone, not just me. Everyone’s use-by-date comes along at some point.”
V’landys has overseen a dramatic transformation of the industry since becoming the chief executive of Racing NSW in 2024. He has led the sport through the equine influenza and COVID-19 crises and introduced initiatives such as The Everest, now one of racing’s premiers race days. The potential sale of Rosehill racecourse looms as another huge challenge for him to navigate.
Rugby league has its own challenges on the horizon; there’s the introduction of the Papua New Guinea team, and potentially another new franchise into the competition, as well as the negotiating of a new broadcasting deal.
V’landys said the twin administrative roles take their toll, but had no complaints.
Peter V’landys is considering his future.
“I got myself into it and I’ve got nobody to blame but me,” he said.
“They are big gigs, but I knew what it was going to be like before I got into it. It met the expectation. It’s hard, there’s no hiding that and I don’t think anyone would say different. I agreed to do it, so if I need to put in the hours and the work, I will.
“At some point in time, I won’t be able to do it. I don’t know when that is. Everyone wants to spend more time with their family, the treasure of my life is the family, my children and my wife.
“Any time you spend with them is gold. They understand and are very supportive, but at times you feel guilty that you don’t spend more time with them, there’s no doubt about that.”
V’landys has added even more to his plate, in the form of a new short-film festival he wants to introduce to Sydney. Despite the additional responsibility, his passion for his roles hasn’t diminished.
“Not really, it’s been the same,” he said. “I went through this a couple of years ago, I went through Covid with both sports. That was probably the hardest time you could have gone through.
“I thought it was going to get easier, but it hasn’t. It’s not in my DNA to just sit back, I’m always going for another opportunity. I just want both sports to do really well. Sitting back and just going through the motions doesn’t do that; you’ve got to consistently look to make it better, brighter and bigger.
“That’s what you’re there for. I take both roles very seriously. Both roles employ a lot of people, they are a lot of people’s passion and being a trustee of those situations, I respect that greatly.
“Never for one day do I take it for granted.”
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
