Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has reportedly made a ploy to coax star Channel Nine reporter Michael Chammas to join the NRL in a new strategic role.
Chammas is one of the sharpest operators in the journalism world and has spent the past two decades reporting on the NRL for the Sydney Morning Herald, Nine and Triple M.
The footy reporter, who has been following the Kangaroos around the United Kingdom over the past month, was approached earlier this year by league bosses over a ‘senior executive role’ at the Perth Bears, according to The Australian.
The Bears are due to enter the NRL in 2027 when they’ll become the 18th franchise to enter the league.
However, those conversations are understood to have broken down after V’landys opted to appoint ex-Channel Seven boss Anthony De Ceglie as the franchise’s chief executive.
The Australian believes that V’landys is still trying to lure Chammas away from the digital media world, having initially set out a potential move to join NRL CEO Andrew Abdo’s team in an executive capacity.
Peter V’landys (pictured) is reportedly trying to coax journalist Michael Chammas to take up a strategic role with the NRL
Chammas (pictured) has worked as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald and Nine for nearly 20 years
Even the league’s head of football position is, per The Australian, said to have been thrown into the mix. Ex-referee Graham Annesley has held the role since 2018.
The outlet adds that it is more likely Chammas will take a role in strategy.
Chammas and V’landys are understood to have a very close relationship.Â
Chammas has broken multiple exclusive stories in the past, including speculation that the NRL could be set to host opening round fixtures in multiple countries, not just Las Vegas.
The ARLC boss later dismissed those claims as a cast off comment as part of a commission meeting discussion. However, it shows that the pair have a close relationship.
Neither V’landys nor Chammas wished to comment when the matter was put to them.
Chammas had been dropped from his regular appearance on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy show in May.
It came after Mitch Moses and his agent, Isaac, said they would snub the panel show, if Chammas was present.
The footy reporter (right) was embroiled in a stoush on-air with Canterbury boss Phil Gould (left) earlier this year
Later, it was confirmed that Nine bowed to the wishes of the footballer and his agent, with Chammas subsequently being replaced by Danny Weidler.
Not long after that, Chammas and Bulldogs boss Phil Gould were embroiled in a huge bust-up during a screening of 100% Footy.Â
The tense on-air clash saw Gould deny accusations that he had misled Doggies fans about signing Lachlan Galvin, who would later go on to join Canterbury.
Braith Anasta later revealed that the spat continued when the cameras were turned off.
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NRL supremo makes shock move to recruit Channel Nine star for one of the game’s biggest jobs