Peter V’landys issues warning to NRL players, agents involved in rebel rugby union competition R360
Peter V’landys has vowed to listen to “furious” NRL clubs demanding hard action against players and managers involved with the rebel rugby union competition R360.
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has vowed to listen to the clubs as they demand that the game takes hard action against any player or agent involved with rebel rugby union competition R360.
It is understood that the NRL will hold further discussions with the clubs next week as they look to formulate a firm policy on R360, which is believed to have targeted up to 10 rugby league players for its inaugural season next year.
This masthead revealed on Wednesday morning that R360 had informed player agents that it would go ahead in October next year, having secured the funding and player numbers to launch a six-team men’s competition.
The news put NRL clubs on high alert as they fear players being enticed by the big dollars potentially on offer in R360.
A handful of NRL stars have held talks with R360 officials – Melbourne duo Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Parramatta’s Zac Lomax and South Sydney’s Jye Gray have all been linked with the breakaway competition.
Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has already confirmed he has committed to joining the competition. V’landys reiterated that players needed to tread carefully.
“If I was a player, what I would be recommending to them is to get hold of the business plan and read the fine details as to how this thing is going to be funded,” V’landys said.
“I’d be doing due diligence on who’s financing them and what they’re getting out of it – because they don’t do it for free.
As this masthead first revealed in August, R360 has signed a broadcast deal with streaming giant YouTube.
R360 organisers have partnered with NFL legend Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, a company that collaborates with Higher Ground Productions – owned by Barack and Michelle Obama – to produce content for streaming platforms.
But other detail around investment and finances remains closely guarded secret because all the parties involved have been forced to sign nondisclosure agreements.
“The due diligence also includes what happens if I go broke,” V’landys said.
“What will happen then if they don’t get paid for 12 months.”
“Here, the NRL is in the best financial position it’s ever been. So you’re guaranteed whatever the club tells you you’re going to receive, you’re going to get.
“To use the analogy, I’m going to put my money in the Commonwealth Bank and get four per cent on a fixed deposit knowing that my money is safe as anything.
“I can go to Joe’s finances and get 25 per cent. But I could lose the lot. It’s a gamble. You want to gamble? It’s gambling with your future.
“If your player manager hasn’t done the due diligence, get a new manager.”
Asked whether the game would take action against players who switched to R360 and whether their managers were also in the firing line, V’landys said: “Well, I’m going to listen to the clubs. The clubs are furious. They want hard action.
“We have proven we will take hard action. We’re not going to let someone destroy our great game. They’re going to have to understand there’s consequences.
“In any decision there’s consequences.”
News of R360’s plans to begin next year come on the day that the NRL celebrates its nights of nights – the Dally M medal.
R360 is believed to be armed with significant funding and is offering massive contracts to players to switch codes and play a global circuit incorporating eight franchises.
None of the franchises will be located in Australia. The Storm are already resigned to Papenhuyzen making the switch once his current contract comes to an end next year.
Lomax shapes as a more complex situation given he is under contract until the end of 2028 with the Eels.
However, it is understood the NSW star has already informed Parramatta of his desire to switch codes and take up a lucrative deal with R360.
The Eels are unlikely to let him go without a release fee. It is not known whether R360 is willing to stump up the cash to get their hands on Lomax.
However, player agents were informed late on Tuesday that R360 had secured enough funding to finance the first three years until the end of 2028.
The news won’t just be a shock to rugby league. It is expected to have deep-seated ramifications for rugby union given the vast majority of players in the competition are expected to come from the ranks of that code.
There had been scepticism around the chances of it coming to fruition but one of the founders – former England rugby union star Mike Tindall – insisted only last week via video message that it would go ahead.
Crucially, it has now been confirmed and the NRL is expected to be impacted. While R360 will focus predominantly on rugby union, player agents in the NRL have been actively shopping players to the competition for months, most notably Clinton Schifcofske.
Schifcofske looks after the likes of Papenhuyzen, Lomax and Grey. It is understood he was also involved in talks between Asofa-Solomona and R360, as well as Will Kennedy.
Asofa-Solomona is under contract but it is believed the Storm were open to allowing him to join R360. Kennedy failed to attract interest from organisers.
The worry for the NRL is that more players will now bat their eyelids at the competition given the money that is on offer.
Brisbane superstar Payne Haas has also been linked with R360 given he comes off contract at the end of next season, coinciding with the start of the R360.
This masthead reported that Haas had been involved in talks with officials from R360, although he denied there had been any discussions.
The Broncos have been locked in talks with Haas over a new deal and his price continues to soar as he leads Brisbane into the grand final.
His next deal is likely to be worth at least $1.5 million a season but even that figure could be dwarfed by the dollars on offer in R360.
It is understood players in R360 have the potential to earn upwards of $2 million a season. Gray, who only became a consistent first grader at Souths this season, is believed to have been offered a contract worth about $900,000 a season by R360.
The Rabbitohs have been desperately trying to convince him to stay beyond the end of his contract next season but talks have progressed slowly, no doubt in part because his management wanted to see whether R360 got off the ground.
Souths’ bid to keep Gray has suddenly got much harder. The Broncos may face the same dilemma with Haas, although the lack of a franchise in Australia may help their cause.
Haas’ personal circumstances – he has two young children and also looks after his two younger brothers – add another layer to discussions about his future.
It is understood the email sent to player agents on Tuesday night confirmed that 12 teams would be registered for the competition – eight men’s and four women’s teams.
A player draft for their teams is planned to be held in the middle of next year. The inaugural season would begin with six men’s teams and start on October 2 before finishing pre-Christmas.
The second season in 2027 would run from April to September and involve 12 rounds. The email also made it clear that R360 wanted to finalise long-form deals with players within weeks.
Originally published as Peter V’landys issues warning to NRL players, agents involved in rebel rugby union competition R360
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