Rugby Australia inquire after NRL’s $52m man Paul White

The man who brought $52m into Brisbane Broncos has been sounded out to be the permanent replacement for Raelene Castle.

Broncos chief executive Paul White is contracted to the club until the end of the season. Picture: Peter Wallis

Rugby Australia is targeting Brisbane Broncos chief executive Paul White to succeed Raelene Castle and lead the embattled sport out of its COVID-19 crisis.

It can be revealed a third-party associate has contacted White on behalf of Rugby Australia to sound out the Broncos boss on his interest in defecting from rugby league to rebuild the struggling rival code.

White, who has reigned at the NRL’s richest club the Broncos for 10 years, was surprised by the approach and is understood to be seriously considering the offer.

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RA is on the hunt for a replacement for Castle following her resignation in April and it has identified White as a frontline candidate to save the sport.

The timing fits nicely. The 53-year-old White is off-contract at season’s end with the Broncos and could make a swift transition to spearhead the recovery of RA, which is reeling financially from the Israel Folau saga and its broadcasting bungle.

Former Brumbies and Rebels boss Rob Clarke is RA’s interim chief executive, but he has no interest in succeeding Castle in a full-time capacity — opening the door for White.

White is one of the most accomplished administrators in Australian sport. The former police officer joined the Broncos in 2010 and while Brisbane have not won a premiership on his watch, he has turned the club into a commercial giant that turned over an NRL record $52m last year.

A former mining executive, White originally notified the Broncos board he would stand down at season’s end but he is considering serving another 12 months to stabilise the club following the pandemic.

The Broncos have discussed White operating on a month-to-month basis next year, but he would prefer the certainty of a one-year extension.

White has been bombarded with career opportunities in recent months, with the Broncos boss fielding interest from European sporting clubs including English rugby outfit Saracens.

He has also been linked with a role as the NRL’s head-of-clubs representative after impressing ARLC chairman Peter V’landys during the COVID saga.

White declined to comment on RA’s approach but said he was “enormously invested” in the Broncos.

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