{"id":922956,"date":"2026-10-10T10:58:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T10:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/922956\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T10:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T10:58:32","slug":"big-bucks-bigger-league-vlandys-reveals-nrls-ambitious-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/922956\/","title":{"rendered":"Big bucks, bigger league: V\u2019landys reveals NRL\u2019s ambitious future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Peter V’landys has set his sights on a billion-dollar future for rugby league, unveiling ambitious plans to expand the NRL<\/a> to 22 teams, reshape the competition’s schedule and secure a $57 million investment in the English Super League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just two weeks after officially stepping into the role of NRL<\/a> executive chairman, V’landys has made it clear he is not slowing down, with his first strategic plan outlining a vision that extends well beyond the next broadcast deal.<\/p>\n

\"RedcliffeSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys and National Rugby League Acting Chief Executive Andrew Abdo arrive a NRL press conference at Rugby League Central on September 03, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

V’landys assumed the competition’s most powerful position following former chief executive Andrew Abdo’s departure to Tennis Australia<\/a>, with the combination of his former role and Abdo’s raising concerns among some over the concentration of power at the top of the game.<\/p>\n

However, he insists the move would not have happened without unanimous support from the NRL<\/a> clubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn’t have taken this role on without the support of the clubs,\u201d V’landys said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was great that it was unanimous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the clubs appreciate the hard work that’s gone in to get the game to where it is. Their support is crucial and the truth is I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest factor is there’s so many things that haven’t been completed, and you need the corporate knowledge to get it done, especially with negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NRL<\/a> secured a record revenue of $845.6 million this year, with that figure expected to surpass $900 million next year before breaking the $1 billion barrier by 2028, when the new $5.3 billion broadcast deal begins.<\/p>\n

It points to a remarkable turnaround from the COVID-19 pandemic, when the game was reported to be just two weeks away from potential insolvency.<\/p>\n

But V’landys is already looking beyond that financial milestone, declaring the NRL<\/a> could expand to 22 teams during the next broadcast cycle, which begins in 2035.<\/p>\n

Despite the arrival of the Perth Bears<\/a> in 2027 and PNG Chiefs<\/a> in 2028, the chairman has no intention of stopping at 20 clubs.<\/p>\n

\"2608-BearWalk-HighRes-44\"Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga during the Bear Walk in Perth. (Credit: Perth Bears)<\/p>\n

The competition’s 21st team is still scheduled to enter in 2029, with an announcement expected before Christmas. The Ipswich Jets and a potential second New Zealand<\/a> franchise, the Southern Orcas, are understood to be among the leading contenders.<\/p>\n

While many expected the 2029 expansion to be the final addition, V’landys believes the game’s growing financial strength and interest from prospective clubs will create further opportunities.<\/p>\n

“There’s no doubt in my mind we will go to 22 teams,” V’landys said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe game is going so strongly that I believe we will be in a position to have more teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may not happen in my time, but we’ve got to keep moving forward and the interest is there (from the expansion bid teams).<\/p>\n

\u201cBy having 22 teams, you can do a lot of things with the game. We can bring in conferences, and you can play around with the number of rounds to reduce the workload on players.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would allow us to also look at fitting in State of Origin<\/a> and the international calendar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe irony is the more teams you have, the more flexibility you can have with the schedule and the draw.\u201d<\/p>\n

V’landys is also pursuing a major international investment, with Super League<\/a> clubs given until October 15 to accept a $57 million package from the NRL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, the proposal hinges on the London Broncos<\/a> being promoted into and included in the Betfred Super League<\/a>, with their inclusion remaining the major sticking point in negotiations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re in the final legs of negotiation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will either happen or it won’t. I’m still hopeful it will happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sticking point at the moment with the other clubs is London Broncos<\/a>. We believe they should be in, so that’s the only disagreement we’ve got among us, really.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want the Broncos in because there’s 750,000 Australians at any one time in London \u2013 a ready-made audience \u2013 and they know the Brisbane Broncos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll our business models and our analysis requires London Broncos<\/a> to be part of it. We take a bigger risk if they’re not in the Super League<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WhoLONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: George Williams of Wigan Warriors takes on Rob Butler of London Broncos during the Betfred Super League match between London Broncos and Wigan Warriors on March 03, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The investment would give the NRL<\/a> a greater stake in the English game, with London viewed as a key market for growing rugby league’s profile and commercial opportunities.<\/p>\n

With the October 15 deadline approaching, the Broncos push could prove decisive in determining whether the deal proceeds.<\/p>\n

Despite his ambitious plans, V’landys has also left the door open to an early departure from the NRL<\/a>, revealing his three-year arrangement does not guarantee he will remain in the role for its full duration.<\/p>\n

The chairman said his future would depend on his ability to deliver results, while making succession planning a priority to ensure the organisation can continue operating effectively without him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage, it’s a three-year arrangement, but it doesn’t mean I have to stay the whole three years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow, so I’m not going to plan three years away. It depends if I’ve been successful. If I haven’t been, well, I shouldn’t be there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve got to deliver. If you don’t deliver, you don’t deserve to stay in the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if I don’t deliver, I don’t deserve to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

V’landys said he had not identified a specific successor but wanted the NRL<\/a> to have the corporate knowledge, talent and experience needed to maintain its growth.<\/p>\n

\"NRLPERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 08: Peter V’landys (Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman) addresses the media during an NRL Perth Bears Announcement press conference at HBF Park on May 08, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven’t got any specific names (to succeed him), but I’ll be looking at getting the best people possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever happens, if I was to leave, the organisation would have the corporate knowledge and the necessary talent and experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest objective is to have a really great succession plan and a really great management structure within the NRL<\/a>, having it as a cost-efficient and effective organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s now a billion-dollar sport. It’s more than just knowing about rugby league.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve got to be very commercial.\u201d<\/p>\n

With expansion plans extending into the next decade and a major international investment still hanging in the balance, V’landys has made his intentions clear: build a bigger, more commercially powerful game while ensuring the NRL<\/a> can thrive beyond his own tenure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Peter V’landys has set his sights on a billion-dollar future for rugby league, unveiling ambitious plans to expand…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":922957,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-922956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/922956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=922956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/922956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/922957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=922956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=922956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=922956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}