Roosters godfather Nick Politis on US Origin and why Trent Robinson will be a 20-year coach
Nick Politis admits the ‘sun is setting’ on his 33-year chairmanship at the Roosters, but one of the game’s most influential figures still has plenty to give to his club and the code.
He sat back on a leather lounge at the swanky Avra Greek seafood restaurant in Beverly Hills, right beside his main man, coach Trent Robinson.
In a black jumper zipped right up to his neck, chairman Nick Politis looked every part the Roosters godfather over keftedes, lamb, lobster pasta, fish, octopus and wine.
This was Nick Politis as you’ve never seen him before – relaxed and content as he surveyed a room full of 50 Roosters players and staff, along with some Sydney media, on exclusive Beverly Ave in Los Angeles. He looked 20 years younger than his age, 82.
And Politis was ready to talk rugby league.
In a wide-ranging interview, Politis:
● Predicted State of Origin game would return to America;
● Revealed who he thinks should be the NRL’s 18th, 19th and 20th clubs – with one location a shock;
● Stressed Robinson would coach the Roosters for at least 20 years;
● Dismissed suggestions he was the Salary Cap Sombrero as “rubbish”;
● Spoke about why his club’s “humility” causes jealousy among opposition fans;
● Supported a women’s game being played in the US;
● Tipped his club could soon land a “big” signing.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
The Roosters are staying in Beverly Hills and training at nearby UCLA ahead of the Vegas match against Brisbane.
“We have been here three or four days and the vibe is unbelievable. At the airport, we bumped into four or five families coming over. Beverly Hills, there are Australians everywhere shopping,” Politis said.
“This is a big thing to come to a different country with four teams.
“It’s going to be very successful. Even my grandson, who works in banking over in London, is flying in on Friday night for the game. I think he’s got four or five mates from New York who he went to university with also coming for the game, it’s unbelievable.
“There are 350 million people here and everything is a numbers game. Australia is a very small country. We’ve got 25 million and have four different types of football all competing in a small market so we have to look at the bigger markets where the population is and try and somehow get some revenue out of it, in some form or another.”
Asked whether there was a future for rugby league in America, Politis said: “I don’t think so as far as playing but there’s a future as far as Peter V’landys raising revenue, subscriptions, maybe TV rights and money from gambling is going to be a big thing.
“I don’t know how the (finances for the American venture) will pan out this year but I believe the NRL is going to make a little bit of money, (or) break even, which is a great start.”
STATE OF STATES
Politis was intrigued when asked whether rugby league’s jewel, State of Origin, could one day be played in America.
“We came over here for State of Origin in 1987 and got 8000 people at a very poor stadium in Orange County,” Politis said. “What failed was that the ARL back then didn’t have the dollars to market the game properly.
“The crowd were all locals and didn’t know the game so it was very quiet. It was like a morgue. Now I think we have 10 or 20,000 Australians (living here) that know the game so we would get a better atmosphere.”
Pressed on whether Origin could be played in the US, Politis said: “For sure, for sure. I think, eventually, that would probably be the next initiative. Slowly as (Americans) get to understand the game, we would get more and more support.
“What would also make a lot of sense would be to bring a women’s game here next year. That would be a big hit here, Americans watching women play rugby league. That would be really successful.”
THE POWERBROKER
Politis has been branded the biggest club official in the history of the game.
“I don’t think so,” he said.
Quickly reminded he branded enormous power in rugby league, Politis said: “I don’t brag about it. I’m not a show-off.
“We like humility. That’s how people want us to be and that’s the way we are across the board and management. It’s important. Not bragging about things is the road to success.
“You have to be humble and connect with the people – the battlers and the people who are supporting us. They are all good people.”
EXPANSION SOLUTION
Ever the strategist, Politis believes the Perth Bears, PNG and Central Queensland should, through coming years, be added to comprise a 20-team competition.
“We should have 20 teams, we need to grow to a national competition. For far too long we have basically been the east coast and New Zealand,” he said.
“I think it should be the Bears and Perth, personally. It’s not up to me but the WA Government is very keen to have rugby league in their state so we shouldn’t walk away from that opportunity.
“It would be a good merge with North Sydney and revive the Bears. They’ve been sitting there complaining for 20 years. They have strong supporters over there on the north shore. It’s a better blend — North Sydney and Perth.
“Papua New Guinea, the money they’re getting from the Federal Government, should be spent on building pathways around the islands and developing players so when PNG comes in, it has a high content of local players.
“If we go too early, it’s going to be a lot of players from the NRL going up there and I don’t know whether that’s going to be the right thing to do. We have to be patient and use the money to develop pathways and locals comps first, that way we can bring in a PNG team made up from locals and Pacific island players.”
And in a surprise move, Politis added: “And maybe another team in Queensland, the central Queensland area. That shuts down Queensland completely with rugby league.
“There could possibly be a team in Rockhampton, to cover the central west, going out to Emerald, coal mining areas. You’ve got Gladstone. There is no other sporting entity of any code north of Brisbane, no rugby union, no soccer, no basketball so I think we need to shore up Queensland as a rugby league state. The population supports it. We talked about it years ago.”
NICK OFF
At age 82, Politis won’t hear of talk that his tenure in rugby league may be drawing to a close.
Politis is staying at the Beverly Wilshire — made famous by the Pretty Woman movie — but comes to the Roosters’ team hotel every day to mingle with staff and players.
And there he was at UCLA on Friday, watching his Roosters train. How many other chairmen still get to training?
“Why not? I love the club and players and I want to be part of it. It keeps me young,” he said. “It’s part of my life and I love it.
“I have been around a long time – I don’t know how much longer I can keep going but I’m still enjoying it so I’m here.
“The sun is setting soon but, no, I don’t (have retirement plans) at this stage.”
ROBBO’S A LIFER
Robinson is under contract at Bondi until 2028 – but that’s just the start.
Sitting opposite Robinson at dinner, this masthead saw first-hand that his passion and desire for success remains insatiable.
“Robbo will be here long after I’m gone, that’s for sure,” he said. “I think he will be here for over 20 years. When we signed Robbo, we wanted the club to become a successful club, a bit like Manchester United.
“I said to him at the time: ‘That’s great but (Sir Alex) Ferguson was there for 24 years, are you ready?’ He said ‘yes’. I hope he will be here that long, for sure, why not?”
THE GLAMOUR CLUB
The constant sniping and jealousy does not affect or concern Politis.
“It’s been that way for 50 years. It’s never going to change. Being Eastern Suburbs, people are always going to see it as us being toffees and glamorous. There is probably some jealousy there from fans at other clubs,” he said.
“We’re a high-profile club and we have high-profile people on the board.
“We have managed to pull off some good things over time like (signing) Sonny Bill (Williams), Cooper Cronk. They got a lot of attention and publicity and it could turn a few other supporters off a bit. But it’s nothing to worry about, it’s all part of the game.
“We have been pretty successful with results over the last 20 years. I think we’ve made eight or nine grand finals and won four so it’s not a bad track record.
“We have a huge following not only throughout the eastern suburbs but around the country and our (television) ratings are pretty good. It’s also the way we connect with players.
“We’re well connected with the business world and give our players the opportunities for careers after football.”
THE SALARY SOMBRERO
Politis often wonders who gave him that tag.
“It’s just rubbish. That’s part of the jealousy thing. Every now and then we strike and pick up a big name and people let their imaginations run riot but there’s nothing there,” Politis said.
“Some commentator must have come up with it. I don’t know who it was and everyone has been running with it for years. Do you know who started it? It’s not an issue.”
MONEY MAN
Reports claim Politis’ net worth is $2.14 billion. Just how much money has he injected into the Roosters since starting as a club sponsor back in 1976?
“Ah, not much now but I was a sponsor for 15 years so a few million I suppose,” he said. “It looks a lot but the club is very successful, very profitable.
“We generate a big rent roll because we decided years ago to buy commercial properties around Bondi to substitute for the decline in poker machines. You can do some spectacular things when you’ve got the money.”
SIMPLY THE BEST
He says: “Rugby league is probably the best sport in our country, if not the world. You can see that from the ratings at home and hopefully it will catch on over here.
“Peter V’landys came out and said we have more eyeballs watching our game than AFL.
“Even rugby people from GPS schools, all the kids seem to follow rugby league more than union.”
LOOK OUT
The Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield revealed the ever-hungry Roosters will have a whopping $3m to spend through the departure of several key players in coming years.
“We’ve got nobody in mind,” he said. “We will see what happens. We’ve still got a couple of years before some of those players retire or move on.
“Maybe we’ll strike a big one soon.”
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