Over the course of its history Rugby League has had all sorts of leadership structures. It has been run by entrepreneurs, its been run by committees, its been run by corporations, its been run by boards….and you know what, Rugby League is never stronger than when it is run by a dictator!
When Peter V’landys moved into the role as the chairman of the Australian Rugby League commission the general consensus was that the ARL board was important, but meant to be in the background. The NRL CEO was seen as the leader of the game, at least in the publics eyes.
V’landys changed all of that. As the chairman of the ARL he was the casting vote in the real seat of power in the Australian game. Keep in mind, the ARL commission was only a new administrative structure at this point. The “independent commission” had been chaired by very ineffective appointees early on, all of which saw the role as just a way to fill out their hollow corporate resumes.
V’landys was different. He took complete control of the game. He made the NRL CEO position a pure administrative role. The NRL CEO runs the day-to-day business while V’landys became the true leader of the sport in Australia.
Immediately things started to change. You see, Rugby League is always at its best when it is guided by one voice. When the sport is run by committee, it loses its way. When it is run by corporations, they undermine the games value to profit off it.
Now here’s the thing, when the game is run by a dictator, you won’t always like what they do. V’landys has made mistakes…such as re-negotiating the games broadcasting deal during Covid and giving money back to Channel 9. Channel 9 immediately turned around and used the money it saved to buy the right to Rugby Union in Australia…on an almost dollar for dollar turn around.
The vast majority of decisions V’ladys has made have been bold, aggressive, and right.
The addition of the Redcliffe Dolphins to the NRL, giving the NRL a second Brisbane team, was streamlined and the right move. On top of that V’landys secured an incredible $600 million commitment by the Australian Government to have an NRL expansion club in Papua New Guinea. Add to that the massive commitment made by the Western Australian Government to get an NRL expansion club in Perth and you have the largest commitments to Rugby League’s expansion in its entire history.
The “Round Zero” matches played in Las Vegas is talked up to be a revolution, even if it is only a glorified footy weekend overseas. Still, it’s a bold move and exciting to see the game on the front foot and trying things. People enjoy the games, and it’s an event to sell. It also generates a LOT of publicity in Australia, and you have to credit V’landys for that.
It all makes you wonder what other plans V’ladys has in mind for the games future. He is clearly bullish on expansion. He has pushed for the ARL commission to buy assets for the game with its profits. The next broadcasting deal is set to be absolutely massive, and that will mean there is even more money available to push the game to new heights.
I fully expect the NRL to be a 20 team league by 2032 at the latest. I think, quietly, V’landys has his eye on getting a second New Zealand team into the NRL.
I also think we will see him push to take over the running of the international game. With the International Rugby League being an abject failure, V’ladys stepping in and taking over the running of the international game would be a welcome move.
None of this would happen under the leadership of a committee, a corporate lawyer, a figure head looking to pad out their resume….it needs a dictator. Someone in complete control who can guide the game forward in the manner they decide it needs to happen.
His name is Peter V’landys.
