Wakefield Trinity owner Matt Ellis has shared his thoughts on reports the NRL could invest in Super League, with the lack of details questioned.
Ellis took charge of Trinity in late 2023 and oversaw the club’s return to Super League as well as last year’s strong campaign that took them into the play-offs. Now in his third year at the club, he’s spoken on Sky Sports’ The Bench podcast about the money he’s pumped into the club.
Discussing the reported NRL takeover or investment in Super League, Ellis went out to bat for his fellow Super League owners and outlined their good intentions, as well as the money that is being spent.
He said: “From what I’ve seen of that, and I’m in those meetings obviously, I don’t think the owners are trying to keep the game back. We’re all putting our hard-earned money into the clubs.
“Myself here, Martin (Jepson) at Cas, the new owners at Hull, we’ve all come in and want to be part of growing the game.”
Ellis also refuted NRL supremo Peter V’landys’ claim that Super League is headed for a ‘train crash’ if a deal isn’t done with the NRL, with the Trinity owner stating: “The figures don’t say that. Average 10,000 across the league last year in terms of attendance, viewing figures up at record highs. I don’t see that and I disagree with that comment. We’ll make it work, whether it’s with the NRL or not.”
Ellis’ comments echo those of St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus, who has also spoke out this week on the lack of detail Super League club owners have been given in regards to an NRL-Super League partership.
Super League owner gives verdict on reports of NRL investment
Ellis also questioned what the actual deal is that the NRL are proposing, confirming that at the moment it is ‘100% speculation’ and no hard facts.
“The NRL, we need to just know the deal. It’s as simple as that. What is the deal,” he asked.
“(It’s) 100% speculation, I’ve been a bit surprised that we don’t know a bit more detail about it.
“We don’t know who the teams would be, we don’t know how many teams would be in the comp so let’s get it open on the table, be honest and let’s see what is the best deal for the game.”
Ellis did admit that he’d be receptive to NRL investment but that without knowing the facts, he can’t say much more.
The Trin owner said: “Of course, if the NRL want to come over here and are willing to put big investment into the sport and help the owners out a little bit and grow the game, then we need to know about it and we need to know what the offer is.
“I saw something saying that the big clubs want it and the smaller clubs don’t want it. Well, I don’t even know where we stand but I don’t know how he can say that if we don’t know what the deal is.”
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