The saga of the potential partnership between the NRL and Super League continues, with fresh reports from Australia revealing a financial boost is coming Super League’s way.
It was just last week that Peter V’Landys, chair of the ARLC and a key figure in the dealings between the two, said that a deal may be off due to both parties being unable to agree on numbers.
However, Sports Confidential now understands that the NRL will offer Super League $60 million over a five-year period. That equates to just over £31 million, or around £6.3 million per season until 2031.
In return, however, the Australian giants would want a stake in the competition that increases by 10% each year until they get a 50% share. The NRL have recently confirmed that ‘Global Round’ will take place in 2028, and a stake in Super League is another way they are trying to make the game more accessible and more high-profile across the world.
Anonymous
August 12, 2026 at 12:35 pm
That’s a piss poor offer, especially for an eventual 50% stake.
Eric T Cat
August 12, 2026 at 2:24 pm
The finances of the RFL, market penetration, TV audience, advertising revenue, vested interests of club ownership, it’s a charitable offer, probably overvalued. Rapprochement with the RFU, access to their money, their resources their backing would be a better first step. Union as a sport is dire, as my ex-wife once asked “Is rugby union for fat old blokes, like you, not good enough, or fit enough, to play rugby league?”, we have the product, they have the money, reach, and ability to get the likes of the BBC to grovel at their feet. Take the top 8 Union sides in the UK, the top 8 League sides, a 16 team division, 30 matches a season, a second division of around 12 clubs with an IMG style system for promotion for their champions. A ten year protection to stop the top flight division becoming dominated by League clubs. Play 13 a side to League rules. They could include an Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and French side, that would widen the appeal. If it takes off expansion of the second tier, even creation of a third tier, with time, marketing, we could start to catch up to football in 10 years or so.
My other thought was American style mini leagues, an end of year competition. It would allow for growth to large numbers, 4/5 team leagues playing maybe 24 matches a season. Growth could be achieved by adding clubs to mini leagues or making new groups.
If you don’t like that, put your idea up, the NRL have tried, vested interests will silence that, somebody must have a solution people would find acceptable. £60 million? How much is an individual club worth?
francis
August 12, 2026 at 7:41 pm
i would tell them where they can shove it that’s a pittance they need to double tat amount
Lee Mar
August 13, 2026 at 6:49 am
FECKALL TO DO WITH THE THUGBY YAWNION AND BY THE WAY WE ARE BRITISH!!! STOP DIVIDING US!!
Lee Mar
August 13, 2026 at 6:50 am
WE’RE BRITISH YOU F.A.G
Lee Mar
August 13, 2026 at 6:46 am
Better than nowt or a tin of peas!
Lee Mar
August 13, 2026 at 6:47 am
I REALLY HOPE SL IS REBRANDED!! NRL UK OR NRL EUROPE WITH THE COMPETITION LOGO ON THE FRIGGIN CHEST NOT THE SLEEVES!!!
Lee Mar
August 13, 2026 at 6:48 am
LET’S HOPE THE NRL RESURRECT THE REAL NATIONAL TEAM TOO!! GREAT BRITAIN LIONS!! FCK THE “ENGLAND” GARB OFF!