Warrington Wolves Head Coach Comments on Super League Future
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess has acknowledged that Australian Rugby League Commission chief Peter V’landys “makes a lot of sense” regarding the future of Super League amid discussions of a possible NRL takeover.
Meeting Between ARLC and Super League Officials
Last week, V’landys met with several Super League club officials and the Rugby Football League (RFL) during the Ashes Test Series. He confirmed that the NRL is interested in supporting its northern hemisphere counterpart, potentially through investment.
Financial Concerns Highlighted by V’landys
Despite the interest, V’landys warned about the financial challenges facing the competition, especially with Super League expanding to 14 teams next season and upcoming negotiations for a new TV deal in 2027 and beyond.
“All we’ve done is analyse the financial viability and I can see a train crash if they don’t get the broadcast revenue they need to sustain a 14-team competition,” V’landys told the BBC.
Burgess Agrees on Need for Super League Improvement
Burgess, who played over ten years in the NRL with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, agreed that Super League must become more appealing to fans and sponsors.
“Peter V’landys makes a lot of sense. He knows what works and I agree with him that the game needs to be packaged up better and sold a lot better."
Speaking after England’s 14-4 defeat to Australia, Burgess added:
“You can see here today, it’s a great product and we’ve got to do a better job of packaging that and distributing it and enticing fans to come along.”
Sam Burgess highlights the urgent need for Super League to enhance its appeal and financial models to secure a sustainable future.