Wigan Warriors icon and club CEO Kris Radlinski has been involved in Super League in various roles since it’s inception in 1996, and is a huge advocate for seeing the competition grow.
A key figure in getting the UK game involved in the NRL’s Las Vegas event, both he and Warrington Wolves CEO Karl Fitzpatrick combined to get Super League to the Sin City, and are also in talks about a potential game in Dublin too as they look to grow the competition to a wider audience.
Radlinski has also been vocal about the NRL’s potential involvement in Super League, and should the correct deal be put on the table, would welcome the likes of Peter V’Landys and the Australian game in giving them control over the competition.
A number of club owners and CEO’s have voiced their concerns over a takeover, with a lack of clarity being the main reason for dispute. Wakefield Trinity owner Matt Ellis, as well as St Helens’ Eamonn McManus have both gone on record to say that there has been no details on what an NRL-led Super League would look like, so they cannot agree to a deal if they don’t know how a partnership would work for both parties.
The Wigan legend spoke to Sky Sports recently to give his views, and hopes that a compromise can be agreed between the two competitions in order to continue the development of the sport as a whole.
“We all want the same thing here don’t we?” Radlinski explained. “We want the the sport to be thriving, we want it to be relevant and we want it to be future-proof and I think we all want the same things.
“Of course, the deal needs to be right, any deal needs to be right. We need to protect what we’ve got, but we’ve also got to have the courage to see what else is out there, so it’s a critical moment.”
The Northern Hemisphere competition has just announced one of it’s biggest ever signings, with Wakefield securing the signature of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for 2027 and 2028.
Commenting on that move, and Trinity as a whole, Radlinski believes that the game is heading in the right direction and a partnership with the NRL would only make for more stories like Wakefield across the whole of Super League.
“…RTS [Roger Tuivasa-Sheck] and what Matt Ellis has done, it’s a brilliant story unveiling in front of our eyes, the Matt Ellis and the Wakefield story and that’s what this game’s got to be about, it’s got to be about looking forward.
“Like I said, we’re obsessed with [rugby league], it’s took us through every single emotion for three decades, but I want to look forward with optimism and excitement, not fear about what the future.
“If the NRL wants to come to the UK and talk to us, let’s have some grown-up, mature, exciting and responsible talks and see where we can take this sport.”
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Anonymous
April 6, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Grown up, mature are good points but we talking about Nigel Wood here. Admire Radlinski for what he has tried to do but I just don’t think clubs want to relinquish control no matter the offer.
Wiganexpat
April 7, 2026 at 6:53 am
Unfortunately, the game in England is like a collection of little corner shops, getting the owners to give up control when their little fiefdom might get affected will be difficult.
Eric T Cat
April 7, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Whether the RFL or the owners they’ll make a complete mess of it, the NRL are more likely to strike a mutually profitable and beneficial deal with the RFU than the RFL. Those involved won’t give up their powers.