The Super League is heading towards a ‘train crash’ with NRL investment the only saviour in the eyes of ARLC chief Peter V’landys, who has now set a deadline for when investment must happen by.

V’landys, who is head of the Australian Rugby League Committee, is in the process of negotiating a new TV deal for the NRL that will run from 2028 until 2032. He’s explained that deal must be done within three months time, meaning the clock is ticking for if the NRL are to invest in Super League and tie them into a broadcast deal.

“The thing is we have to do it in the next three months, and if we can’t do it in the next three months, they’re going to lose that opportunity,” V’landys said on Triple M radio live from Las Vegas.

He also confirmed that the first of the NRL’s proposed global games will likely be played in London with many expecting a Brisbane Broncos and London Broncos double header for that occasion.

However, much of his chat focused on the chances of NRL investing in Super League, something he admitted that the ARLC are prepared to do but only if they gain administrative control.

NRL chief outlines the likelihood of investment in Super League

Asked if investment if likely by a panel that included former England international James Graham and ex-NRL and Super League man Luke Keary, V’landys said: “Look, we’re prepared to do so, but if we did do it, we’d want to have total control.

“Their corporate governance model is they’re all clubs, and clubs all have self-interest, so you never get good outcomes or decisions if the shareholders run the company. You’ve got to trust the board of directors.”

Outlining how the NRL would operate in charge of Super League, he explained: “The way the NRL would do it is we would run the competition, and they would benefit, and we will invest heavily in it. We believe we can get much better broadcast revenue than they’ve got at the moment, and we want to make the game viable and vibrant.

“The way it is at the moment, it’s heading for a train crash if there’s not some new investment.”

With reports that the NRL are set to land a $4 billion TV deal, worth $800 million per year, it’s a timely reminder that the Super League TV deal is around 20 times smaller, hence why V’landys believes the NRL have plenty to offer.

Talking about how he perceives the situation in England, V’landys said: “If they love the game of rugby league and they want to survive in England, this is their best opportunity.

“The big owners, the smart ones, the good operators, they want us, they’ve opened up their arms and they’re the ones that have requested that we look at it. They’re the big, wealthy owners but it’s the little ones that may not go with it.

“The smart business people can see that their only chance of survival is investment, and one party that can invest is the NRL, and we bring a broadcaster with us.”

Whilst the NRL are plotting their TV deal almost two years in advance of it becoming active, Super League are still without broadcasters for the 2027 season which makes V’landys’ offer of support and investment even more appealing.

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