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Yes to PVL, no to PNG: Club bosses have their say on NRL’s biggest issues
In part one of our exclusive poll, 82 per cent of club CEOs, chairmen and general managers said they still have faith in Andrew Abdo to continue as NRL chief executive.
Credit: Illustration: Jamie Brown
The Sydney Morning Herald approached all 45 NRL club chief executives, chairmen and general managers to take part in an anonymous poll covering the big issues in the sport, with 33 responding. This is how the game’s most influential figures view its burning questions as the NRL launches its season. The poll was conducted over a three-week period with it closing on February 16.
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of ARLC chairman Peter V’landys over the past 12 months?
The verdict: V’landys’ popularity among the clubs has risen during the past 12 months. Tension over the negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement impacted his score last year, but he’s managed to turn things around since.
What they said
“Peter is an outstanding leader, sports administrator and chairman. The game is lucky to have him. Peter is a bold, strong visionary leader who cares deeply about the game. I learned a great deal from his courage to innovate and create change. He is so well connected and that has opened doors for rugby league.
“We have a really strong relationship, we talk often and both of us love the game and have the best interests of the game at heart. Peter’s vision for the game and his drive to succeed motivates all of us. We have worked well together for four years and I am proud of the results we have achieved. He has always backed me. I am grateful for that and do not take it for granted.” - Andrew Abdo
Do you still have faith in Peter V’landys to continue as chairman of the ARLC?
Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys.Credit: Jamie Brown
The verdict: Only two of the 33 respondents who took part in the Herald’s survey believe V’landys shouldn’t continue as chairman. It’s a massive show of faith in the game’s figurehead. It’s hard to remember such strong support across the game – especially after almost five years at the helm – for a previous chairman.
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo over the past 12 months?
The verdict: Andrew Abdo has experienced a slight drop in ratings when club bosses were polled a month ago. It would be interesting to see where he stands now on the back of a largely successful Las Vegas campaign.
What they said
“Being CEO of the NRL is an enormous privilege and responsibility. Being a regulator sometimes means you sometimes don’t win all the popularity polls, that are taken at a point in time. I am in regular dialogue with the club CEOs and there is always healthy and respectful debate on matters. That is the nature of the relationship between the league and clubs. Sometimes I have to make tough calls as a regulator and with integrity matters.
“Being a leader means you are not always popular with every stakeholder and sometimes we have to make tough decisions in the best interests of the game overall. We’ve all worked together incredibly well since the pandemic to put our game in a terrific position. The game now has record high revenues, club and player payments, net assets, crowds, TV viewers and grassroots participants. There is more work to do and I have never been more focused or motivated to play my part in helping the game grow and prosper.” - Andrew Abdo.
The verdict: There has been plenty of noise in the game over the past few months that Abdo was losing the support of the clubs. This result paints an entirely different picture. A whopping 82 per cent of club CEOs, chairmen and general managers want him to remain in the top job.
What they said
“It just shows you the talk has been rubbish. He is still the best CEO I’ve ever ever worked with by a country mile. The game is very lucky to have him. He’s proved it again with everything that has transpired in Las Vegas. The implementation of the thing was flawless.” - Peter V’landys
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the game at the moment?
Previous results
- 2023: Player agents 24%, NRL relations with clubs/players 24%
- 2022: Junior development 57%, Player agents 29%
- 2021: COVID 24%, Player agents 20%, Junior participation 20%
- 2020: Future broadcast deal 40%, player agents 25%
The verdict: Concussion is perceived as the biggest issue in the game. It comes just after commissioner Wayne Pearce travelled to Pittsburgh to visit concussion guru Michael Collins. The NRL is open to reviewing some of its processes and policies around concussion following research that says there are six different types of concussion and each requires its own recovery and rehabilitation plan.
“The problem with concussion is it’s a very emotional issue and at times people say things that aren’t supported by medical evidence,” V’landys said.
“Further we shouldn’t be introducing measures to simply window dress for public perception. You have to take a deep breath and look at facts. I don’t want to scare former players and tell them they will suffer from CTE. Just because someone forgets where they left their car keys, doesn’t mean they have CTE. It’s a natural ageing process in most cases.
“We will base what we do on fact, not on emotion or commercial gain by suppliers of products. Anything we do will be on medical evidence and refrain from window dressing as players’ safety and future is the only consideration.”
What they said:
“The biggest issue facing the game is:
(i) there is no overarching strategy for the game. This needs to be developed (in consultation with members) and owned by the ARL.
(ii) there is no clear accountability including KPIs/metrics/roles and responsibilities for the strategy of the game;
(iii) the owners of the ARL are its members yet the commission fails to engage proactively with its members. Decisions are made at a commission level and there is little or no engagement with the members on key decisions.
A critical strategic pillar is participation but no one owns it and despite it being a strategic priority there has been little or no progress over the last four years driven by the ARL.” - Anonymous club boss.
Do you think it is a conflict of interest for player managers to also represent coaches?
The verdict: The clubs want the NRL to stamp out conflicts of interest within the game, especially when it comes to the influence agents have over the clubs at which they manage the head coach. V’landys has vowed to act on it.
“I certainly believe it’s a conflict and we want separation on that. We will work with agents to do so,” he said.
Would you support a national reserve grade competition?
The verdict: The clubs are split on the NRL’s vision to bring back a national reserve grade competition. Most of the resistance is coming from Queensland and the state leagues, however the NRL is continuing to explore the possibility of bringing back a national reserve grade competition.
What they said:
“That result is what I expected. There are some clubs that are against it. However, it’s vertical integration and the reserve grade provides another form of entertainment for the fan. We’ve always been about the fan. We have to explore it, and we’re going to. We’re not going to listen or be influenced by self-interest.” - Peter V’landys.
Do you think NRL players are unfairly targeted by police because of their profile?
Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton outside the ACT Magistrates Court in November.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The verdict: With Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton recently cleared over an incident involving police in Canberra last year, and two police officers charged with assaulting Canberra hooker Tom Starling, there is a growing feeling that NRL players are being targeted because of their social status.
What region do you believe should be the host of the 18th NRL team?
Results
- Perth: 70%
- Wellington: 9%
- Central Queensland: 6%
- South-east Queensland: 6%
- Papua New Guinea: 6%
- NSW Central Coast: 3%
The verdict: Despite the NRL pushing ahead with plans to make Papua New Guinea its 18th team, the clubs are strongly against it. Only 6 per cent of clubs want the next team to come from PNG. There is strong support for Perth to be handed the next license.
What they said:
“That’s not surprising about Perth, but we’re deep in discussion with the federal government on Papua New Guinea. It’s no secret we want to go to 20 teams and Perth is certainly in the mix. We can do both.” - Peter V’landys.
Do you think the NRL should introduce a team in Papua New Guinea in the future given the financial backing from the Australian Government?
The verdict: While only six per cent of club bosses believe PNG should be given the license for the NRL’s 18th team, 32 per cent think the region should be given a team at some point in the future given the millions of dollars on offer from the federal government.
V’landys believes clubs will change their minds in time. “What you have to understand, to be fair to the people who have answered the questions, they are basing their opinion without any information that we have,” he said. “Once they get that info, they might have a different view. I guarantee it.”
What they said:
- “Peter and Andrew are competent leaders of our game and make an excellent combination. While it is appealing to take the government’s cash to expand to PNG, we must recognise the social dilemmas and challenges of doing business in that market, not to mention the economic prospects of PNG fans being able to financially support their team. Perth and the Pacific are two better markets.” - Anonymous club boss.
- “If the team is to become a reality, it needs to be a true PNG team that is fully based in and playing out of PNG.” - Anonymous club boss.
Do you believe the introduction of the Dolphins has been a success so far?
The Dolphins have been a raging success as the NRL’s 17th team.Credit: Getty
The verdict: The NRL has received a massive stamp of approval from the clubs for taking the punt on the Dolphins as the competition’s 17th team. “You have to remember when you did the poll on this one a few years ago, people voted against them too,” V’landys said.
“I stress again, once you have the information people form a different view. We wanted to get new fans and viewers, which we’ve done, and to kick off more Queensland derbies. Everything we aimed to achieve, we have achieved it and we’re only one year in.”
What they said:
“The Dolphins have been the best shot in the arm for the NRL in a long time.” - Anonymous club boss.
What do you believe is the optimal number of teams the NRL can sustain by 2030?
Results
- 18 teams: 53%
- 20 teams: 35%
- Other: 12%
The verdict: The NRL has a vision for 20 teams in the next 10 years. The majority of clubs believe the NRL should only introduce one team between now and 2030.
Would you support a two-conference system in the NRL?
Results
- No: 51%
- Yes, when there are more teams: 49%
- Yes, let’s do it now: 0%
2022 results: No 83%, Yes 17%
The verdict: Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis recently threw his support behind a two-conference system as early as the introduction of the 18th team. The NRL is toying with the idea of splitting the competition into two conferences, but would prefer to do it at 20 teams.
What they said
- “There are different types of ways you can do it and they will all be looked at. Naturally we will also consult with clubs and the RLPA, but I can see merit in it. We’ll have to sit down and do some analysis and sit down with broadcasters. There are a lot of benefits to it. My look at it is only cursory and haven’t gone into depth on it. The most important party is the one that gives you 80 per cent of revenue - that’s the broadcasters.” - Peter V’landys.
- “The competition could use a 20-team system, with four conferences and five teams in each, similar to the NFL that would help balance the draw and allow more ‘blockbusters’ for existing or created rivalries. A revamped finals system with winners and runners-up from each conference and a wildcard system for highest-placed third teams, seeing 10 teams playing in the finals.” - Anonymous club boss.
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the way the NRL handled the CBA negotiations with the RLPA?
Result: 2.5/5
The verdict: The clubs weren’t impressed with the way the NRL and RLPA went about the recent collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The process took almost two years to finalise.
What they said
- “For the first time ever we have a long-form agreement. It can’t be that bad. The reason it took longer and was much harder was because of the greater detail we needed to go through to do a long-form agreement. If you look back and considered the many issues that were on the table, it probably had to take that long. I acknowledge miscommunication throughout the process that didn’t help. But now you have a benchmark long-form agreement for the future.” - Peter V’landys.
- “The ongoing uncertainty around the salary cap was just crazy. How can a business operate effectively in the blind like that?” - Anonymous club boss.
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate RLPA boss Clint Newton’s representation of the players?
Result: 2.5/5
The verdict: Clint Newton has struggled to convince the clubs that he is doing a good job as the boss of the players’ association. It’s the first time the question has been asked in the annual poll.
What they said:
“I think that’s a bit harsh on Clint. He did the best for his organisation as he was expected to do so. I think both Clint and Andrew [Abdo] did very well.” - Peter V’landys.
Do you believe the NRL’s plans to take premiership games to Las Vegas over the next five years will yield a significant financial benefit for the sport in the future?
The NRL in Las Vegas.Credit: Getty
The verdict: The poll was completed on February 15 before the teams flew over to America and the games were played, but the majority still felt as though it would be a financially lucrative exercise for the NRL. Not all were convinced, however.
What they said
“Vegas is a vanity weekend for PVL. How much will it cost? Really cost?” - Anonymous club boss.
What crowd figure would you consider a pass mark for the NRL at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas?
Results
- 40,000: 52%
- 50,000 plus: 15%
- 30,000: 12%
- 35,000: 12%
- 45,000: 6%
- 25,000: 3
The verdict: The majority of clubs said a crowd of 40,000 would be considered a pass mark. The NRL’s official crowd for the match at Allegiant Stadium was 40,746. One club boss said: “The key Vegas metric won’t be crowd attendance, it will be wider exposure, commercial gain and gaming revenue.”
Would you like your team to play in the season opener in Las Vegas in 2025?
The verdict: Given the success of the event, one could only assume this figure would rise if the poll were taken again.
What they said
“I’m really pleased with how year one went and that so many clubs now have their hands up to take part in 2025. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the early success of our US strategy. We will carefully and fairly assess each club’s participation proposal and look to lock in the match-ups as soon as possible. This will allow clubs and most importantly fans to start making their plans for what will be an even bigger and better event next year.” - Andrew Abdo.
Part two of the annual poll will be released on Sunday morning.
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