What NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on today’s meeting as Super League investment chances and dates revealed

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo is in England currently to discuss a deal between Super League and the Aussie competition, and he’s had plenty to say on the matter.

It’s long been talked about that the NRL could invest in Super League but with the Australian competition set to begin negotiating their own upcoming TV deals, any deal with Super League likely has to be done soon.

As a result, Abdo has flown over to the UK with negotiations opening up on what a deal looks like.

Whilst no formal offer has been made yet, plenty has been talked about and Abdo spoke on Sky Sports ahead of the Super League clash between Hull FC and St Helens to provide an update.

Below is a transcript of everything he said on the possibility, when interviewed by Sky Sports’ Briab Carney, on the chances of NRL investment in Super League.

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NRL CEO reveals all on Super League investment talks

Q: You’ve turned your attention to the Northern Hemisphere, why is that?

Abdo: “It’s quite simple, we really believe in the globalisation of Rugby League.

“This is a great game and we want to take it to as many people as possible, we want to win as many fans as possible and so while the game is growing really well in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, we also want the game to be strong here in the North, particularly in England and obviously further expansion beyond.

“That is really what the opportunity is, can we work together to make the game even stronger and not just to celebrate our existing fans but to take the game to new fans and win new fans?

Q: Have experiences like the World Club Challenge, the two Vegas participations from the Super League clubs and the Ashes reaffirmed the importance of rugby league to the people and sporting culture in England?

Abdo: Absolutely. This game is heavily tribal and of course the opportunity to work together on those major events that we spoke about. The Ashes Tour was pretty special but seeing the English fans in Vegas combined with all the Aussie fans, it was unbelievable. I think it was a sign and a metaphor for the synergy of the two sports coming together.

Q: NRL investment, as I understand it, is predicated on a change of governance structure in this country to one that would more resemble a commission structure that you have in Australia. Can you explain how it works and why it’s been successful?

Abdo: I think with any successful business, not just sport, you need good ideas, you need access to capital and then you need the ability to execute. The ability to execute is really what we’re talking about in terms of governance, so decision making.

What we have in Australia is the Australian Rugby League Commission is eight independent directors. Those independent directors, led by Peter V’landys who is the chairman, are custodians for the game overall and the long-term strength of the game, not just at the elite level, not just NRL competition, but grassroots, pathways, and making sure that the game is thriving at all levels.

The independent decision making is really what we are hopeful for here, because what we need is the ability. You can get capital and you can invest, but really having the ability to make the decisions that are important for the growth of the game long-term.

Q: Did you get any closer in today’s meeting to agreeing an independent commision?

Abdo: We’re still exploring, right? Today, and this trip, has been about listening and learning and being cognisant of the fact that this is a complex stakeholder landscape. It’s different to Australia and we’re very respectful of that.

It’s also understanding the different dynamics here in terms of grassroots, the relationship with broadcasters, the relationship with government, and how it all fits together. So, yes, it is. We did take a few steps forward because it’s a common understanding around what our objectives are.

In terms of the actual mechanics of the deal and how that all fits together, there are a few things still to work through and obviously that’s what we’re going to focus on in the coming weeks.

Q: I believe there is no formal offer. Is that correct?

Abdo: Yeah, but it’s not about an offer, right? This is about a partnership where we can collaborate on, A, how we can grow the game, how we can grow revenues, and B, how can those revenues be pumped back into the game here. That’s pretty nuanced and that’s something we have to develop together.

Q: We do have to find a number don’t we? Peter (V’landys) has suggested losses quoted by Super League chairman of between £15-20 million would be covered. Am I in the right ballpark?

Abdo: I think in any successful sport, you want to have a salary cap that allows you to attact the best athletes possible and you want clubs that are vibrant, strong and sustainable. It’s not sustainable to have private owners putting money in and it’s not sustainable to have an uneven competition.

Clearly, there needs to be strong investment back into the clubs to make sure that they are strong and sustainable. That is a key element of this. How much and how that all fits together, we’re still working through that.

It’s about taking whatever dollar is invested by us and then extrapolating that and getting even more from other investors. It’s a conversation we have to have with a number of stakeholders.

Q: Will clubs outside the top tier be cut adrift?

Abdo: No, because there has to be value on the table for everyone. There has to be a way in which you balance the elite game together with pathways and grassroots. This game has been built off the foundation of the clubs that exist today so, it’s about how you take that and move it to the next level.

There’s a place for everyone, there’s a role for everyone, but obviously, some tough decisions will need to be made.

Q: Is London an important market?

Abdo: I think it’s fairly obvious.

Q: France too?

Abdo: Yeah, absolutely.

Q: Can you assure fans that history, heritage and identity ofo rugby league won’t be disrespected? 

Abdo: This is not a takeover. This is a partnership. It’s rugby league coming together. This is the NRL and Super League coming together to make the sport stronger and to make it thrive on a global stage, not just here in England, not just in France, Australia, New Zealand, but globally.

Q: If you get the agreement and get control, how does it look in five years time?

Abdo: Well, that’s the work ahead of us, but I can tell you what, more showcasing of the game onto new markets, right, that’s really important. The best possible athletes in the game, more major events and a focus on the customer.

“I mean, you can distil this all down to many things and keeping many stakeholders happy, but ultimately it’s about fans. How do we win more fans and how do we keep growing the game? For that, you have to have a sense of humility and you have to really listen to understand what the fans want.

Q: You took the NRL forward with a mantra of ‘stabilise yourself, renovate and grow‘. Would that apply in northern hemisphere rugby league?

Abdo: Yeah, I think it’s. Stabilise is making sure that you focus in on the foundations. Renovate, well, how can we get smarter, better, more efficient, more revenues, more fans, more efficiencies, better overall experience. Then it’s really exciting, you lay the platform and then you go off to growth.

Q:  When will we have an offer that the Super League owners and the club owners can look at and contemplate?

Abdo: Well, I can give you the assurance that we are looking at this very carefully. It’s exciting. I’m optimistic about what this can do for the sport of rugby league in many senses.

So it has our attention, it has our focus. There are a few things that need to obviously align on both sides and we’ll give it a red hot go.

This is something that if it’s going to happen, it needs to happen over the course of the next few weeks, months, not years.