NRL: Peter V’landys ‘buoyed by Nine’s commitment to game’ amid coronavirus crisis

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has described a ‘constructive, co-operative’ meeting with Nine boss Hugh Marks.

ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys says he is ‘buoyed’ by Nine’s commitment to the game. Picture: AAP

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has emerged from a meeting with Nine Network chief executive Hugh Marks buoyed by their commercial partner’s commitment to the game.

“Today Nine CEO Hugh Marks and I had a constructive and co-operative meeting about rugby league in 2020 and beyond,” V’landys said.

“I am buoyed by Mr Marks’ support of rugby league and his commitment to the game. The meeting provided us with the opportunity to outline our positions and discuss next steps to navigate this crisis.

Nine CEO Hugh Mark. Picture: AAP

“We are both focused on the long-term success of the game and while there is more work to do, I am optimistic we will find a way through this together.

“Our next meeting, where we will endeavour to construct a road map for the game this year, must include Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany.”

The Nine Network was critical of the NRL in a statement last week, released amid speculation they would be happy if rugby league did not return in 2020.

A spokesman for Nine accused the NRL of mishandling the game and wasting the millions the network had invested in the sport. V’landys refused to publicly engage in a slanging match and his comments out of today’s meeting suggest the parties may have found a way forward.