NRL chief Peter V’landys to meet RFL as St George winger seeks Super League deal

Peter V’landys is reportedly set to go into bat for an NRL player in their bid to make a move to Super League for 2026.

St George Illawarra Dragons’ back Cody Ramsey last played a competitive NRL game in 2022 with the 25-year-old sidelined for both the 2023 and 2024 campaigns as he suffered from ulcerative colitis.

It’s a form of inflammatory bowel disease and for Ramsey, it did more than just prevent him playing rugby league as it also threatened his life at one point.

St George received cap compensation as Ramsey dropped out of their top 30 but the winger/full-back was able to return for the 2025 season, playing in one of the pre-season trial games before putting in a strong campaign in the New South Wales Cup.

Ramsey scored 10 tries in 22 games for the Dragons’ NSW Cup side and he’s since been offered a train-and-trial deal, however, he wants more security and is willing to make the switch to Super League to do so.

V’landys to make case for NRL winger who’s blocked from Super League move

Unfortunately, he’s unable to earn a Super League deal as it stands because RFL rules mandate that players signing from overseas must have played a certain number of games in the past two seasons.

Ramsey hasn’t met this threshold due to his illness but he’s getting plenty of support, both from those at the club and even the NRL chief Peter V’landys, who is set to “go to war” with the RFL according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

According to their report, St George board member Mark Coyne has tried and failed to help Ramsey bypass that rule so V’landys, one of the most senior figures in the NRL, will take on the 25-year-old’s case and try to negotiate a way for him to bypass those rules.

Ramsey clearly has plenty of talent, scoring 14 tries in his 36 NRL games, before being stood down due to illness. Debuting in 2020, he’d make 18 appearances in 2021 and 15 the year later as he scored six tries in each campaign.

Plenty of Super League sides are hungry for an outside back of his quality but any hope of a move now seems dependent on Peter V’landys successfully negotiating with the RFL.