Super League pundit issues fresh NRL takeover verdict after latest Peter V’Landys comments

Jon Wilkin believes Peter V’Landys’ guidance could just what Super League needs, but he struggles to see current club owners giving up control.

The NRL has long been interested in a buy out of Super League and it seems that is moving closer to becoming a reality following ARLC chairman V’Landys’ comments while in Las Vegas last week.

Speaking with Sky Sports, he reiterated his stance and desire to help the game in the Northern Hemisphere, while also stating that discussions are on going. He also put a May deadline on any deal.

He also outlined his message to Super League stakeholders about needing to give up control before adding those club owners could eventually start to get return on investment in a thriving competition down then line rather than making consistent losses.

V’Landys met with RFL officials in Las Vegas once more last week and it seems that an agreement between the two parties is moving closer.
Wilkin can see the positives, but he also struggles to see those club owners being completely persuaded.

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“I think the economic dynamics are completely different in this hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere,” Wilkin said. “The league’s clubs, government funding in Australia, a lucrative TV deal and in this country we have 14 individual private owners who currently add liquidity to our competition.

“It’s a different model now and if Peter V’Landys is saying hand over total control, I struggle to see how that will work. It may well be the best thing for our competition and it may well give the drive and the real ambitious clarity that we need at the top of the game.

“I just struggle to see 14 club owners who have put tens of millions of pounds of their own money in, to hand over complete control.

“I will say this though, if you get your accountant to do your accounts and a marketeer to do your marketing, Peter V’Landys is a marketeer and a salesman and he could be just what we need.”