All Super League clubs are keen on the potential partnership between the NRL and Super League, Warrington Wolves CEO Karl Fitzpatrick believes.
It was confirmed last week that RL Commercial had received a ‘first offer’ from the ARLC as both competitions look to come together, with the NRL investing $60 million, per reports, in exchange for a 50% stake in Super League.
The deal would work out as the northern hemisphere receives just under £7 million per year from their southern hemisphere counterparts, who in turn would receive a 10% annual increase in stake for the next five years.
NRL investment is crucial to the long-term sustainability of Super League, with the likes of St Helens and Leeds Rhinos posting huge losses in their latest accounts, whilst NRL clubs continue to make profit.
Fitzpatrick, along with Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski, were guests on The Bye Round podcast, hosted by England legend James Graham, and it was there that both CEOs gave the lowdown on the state of Super League, the upcoming Dublin trip and where the game is at in terms of NRL talks.
He said: “All the clubs, to my understanding, want this partnership. I think partnership is probably the right word here, with the NRL. But it’s got to be the right terms for both parties.
“The sporting landscape in the UK is very different to Australia… We sit 15 miles in between Manchester and Liverpool; Man United, Man City, Liverpool, some giant Premier League clubs.”
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What do Super League CEOs want from NRL partnership?
Explaining what Super League needs from the NRL, it’s not just the financial gain that is paramount, but the expertise as well. Peter V’Landys and his side continue to develop the sport down under, and whilst they don’t have a ‘Premier League’ to compete with, they would still be hugely beneficial, given their knowledge of growing the game.
Fitzpatrick said: “It’s an extremely challenging sports market, really difficult. We need resource, we need investment to help accelerate the growth because, yes, it’s really a challenging spot, but there’s some green shoots.
“You look at The Ashes, we had some really good numbers for The Ashes. Then we go on to the World Club Challenge, we had a 20,000 sellout at Hull. Then we move on to Magic, we had over 80,000 at Everton.
“We went to Vegas, we’ve got Dublin announced. All the social media metrics are up, the attendances are up, but it’s still challenging.
“…We only get £1.3 million [central funding]. So we would like investment to accelerate that growth, but also expertise as well. But they’re going to need local knowledge and local support.
“When I met Andrew (Abdo) when he was over for The Ashes, he spoke about that. They’re going to need some local support and local knowledge to help realise that growth. But we’re going to need some resources to do it.
“I think this represents an incredible opportunity for Super League and the NRL due to the growth in the market. Are there things we could do better? 100%, and that’s where the expertise of the NRL comes in.”
Super League CEO reveals ‘blocker’ to NRL partnership
Radlinski continued Fitzpatrick’s point, saying: “It can’t just be investment. Just giving us the cash without the expertise and the knowledge to put it to the correct use, we’ll just end up in the same place.”
The Wigan CEO also commented on the ‘blocker’ – the thing that is stopping the partnership from coming to fruition sooner.
“The blocker is, as it stands at this moment in time, we’ve not seen the detailed piece of work from the NRL to say how they’re going to see this working.
There is a big element of that which is the control. How much total control are the Super League and the English clubs prepared to give the NRL?
“If I just take my club for example… we would be prepared to give up control whilst protecting things that ‘Fitzy’ mentioned – the heritage, the community impact, all the stuff that makes us great.
“We would be prepared to give up control to be led by people who are doing something very successful at this moment in time.”
Johnny
August 18, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Make sure they change the people running our game
Hangers on overpaid
Cullen wood Mrp img referees kendall Liam moore smith most of them
An Coats
August 19, 2026 at 3:51 am
BRITISH game!! England is not a sovereign country! Perhaps read up on how the 1707 Act of Union created the Kingdom of GREAT BRITAIN which replaced the former sovereign states of England, Wales and Scotland??? All Aussies need a wake up!
An Coats
August 19, 2026 at 3:54 am
James Graham played for GREAT BRITAIN!! The HIGHEST rep side, higher than the Inger-land bollox….