Rugby League Commercial chief hits back at “over-dramatic” Luke Keary comments on state of Super League

The head of Rugby League Commercial, Rhodri Jones, has responded to comments from Catalans Dragons star Luke Keary on the state of Super League with Jones labelling the Australian’s comments as “over-dramatic”.

In a bombshell interview with Wide World Of Sports, Keary spoke in depth on the problems that rugby league in the UK faces going as far as to say: “If (the NRL) don’t buy it, they’re in a lot of trouble… all the players are open to it.”

He’d add: “They’re on their knees, like they’re literally on their knees begging for the NRL (to buy in). Then you look at it… it’ll take that much work for them to turn it around.”

One man who read the reports of those comments was Rugby League Commercial’s managing director Rhodri Jones and he took to Radio 5 Live Sport on Thursday night to respond, calling Keary’s comments “over-dramatic” and claiming that the upcoming fortnight might help reshape the Catalans man’s opinion.

Catalans face Leigh at Magic Weekend and will then travel to face Hull KR in a Challenge Cup semi-final at York the week after, with Jones claiming 65,000 will be at St James Park as he countered the argument of UK rugby league being on it’s knees.

Rhodri Jones assesses state of rugby league after Keary’s bombshell comments

Speaking on Radio 5 Live Sport’s coverage of Athletic Bilbao versus Manchester United, Jones spoke with Steve Crossman to outline what was effectively a defence of rugby league in the UK.

“They were dramatic (comments). Luke is clearly entitled to his own opinion though I’m not necessarily in agreement with what he’s got to say,” Jones initially stated.

“From our perspective, our figures are showing that we’re having a very positive season. Our attendances are up, our TV audience is up and with Luke being in France, he might be a little bit out of the mainstream in terms of seeing the positivity for the game here in the UK.

“He’ll get a real feel for that this coming weekend with Magic Weekend at St James Park where he’ll play in front of 65,000 people against Leigh Leopards.

“He (Luke) will also be involved in a sell-out next weekend in a Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull KR so maybe over the next week or so, Luke might have a different opinion on Super League.”

It’s worth noting that the 65,000 people is the expected attendance over both days so Keary will in fact likely play in front of around 30,000, however, it is set to be an increased attendance from 2024’s Magic Weekend at Elland Road.

Putting context to Keary’s comments, Jones acknowledged the fact the 33-year-old had been at the very pinnacle of the game in Australia.

He said: “I think they’re honest (comments) from a person who was been involved in the competition for the last eight or nine weeks.

“I recognise Luke has played at the very top of the game in Australia and the game in Australia is akin to the Premier League over here. That Sydney bubble is non-stop media and that’s what he’s used to.”

Catalans “surprised” by Keary’s comments

Jones underlined his belief that rugby league in the UK is trending upwards, noting the game in Las Vegas, the two Ashes sell-outs so far, whilst also revealing that over 30,000 tickets have sold for the Ashes opener at Wembley.

It wasn’t just Jones who was surprised at Keary’s comments with Catalans Dragons also surpised, according to Jones who also spoke about his first meeting with the player in recent weeks.

Jones said: “I was surprised by what he had to say. I did speak with his club (Catalans) this morning and they too were surprised. I think they would be disappointed perhaps with how dramatic his comments were. It’s disappointing.”

The RL Commercial man even suggested that Keary’s comments ‘flew in the face of’ those made by Catalans head coach Steve McNamara earlier in the week on Radio 5 Live Sport with McNamara championing the importance of French clubs in Super League.

On his own dealings with Keary, Jones said: “I actually saw and met Luke for the first time a couple of weeks ago and he asked me about the NRL and I gave him a very honest answer which was that we are talking and have got a very positive working relationship with them.”

What Rhodri Jones said on the NRL investing in UK rugby league

Jones was of course asked about the reports of NRL investment in Super League and he admitted that the future is unclear but acknowledged the widespread reports that the NRL view Catalans as essential.

He explained: “There’s a lot of ongoing dialogue but there’s also a lot of media speculation in both hemispheres so at this point in time, who knows what the future holds.

“From what I’m reading, it feels like if the NRL are to get involved in the Super League competition then it would have a French influence.”

Jones underlined the key issue that needs addressing if that is to be the case, adding: “I think the Dragons have been a positive news story and narrative over the last 19 years in the Super League competition, it’s just that the economics of their inclusion is the question at the moment.

“That needs to be further discussed is the honest kind of position on the Dragons.”

In his final verdict on Keary’s comments, he said: “I come back to the fact that Luke has been in the competition for nine rounds and has been in France, out of the mainstream, and I think we can do a lot of things to convince him that he’s been perhaps a bit over-dramatic in his comments.”