SUPER League’s former general manager has called for the top-tier clubs to be given a greater say in decision-making as the NRL mulls possible involvement in the Northern Hemisphere.
Blake Solly, now CEO of South Sydney Rabbitohs, oversaw the running of the British game’s top division from 2014-2016 having previously worked for the RFL as compliance manager, and director of standards and licensing.
Solly, along with Wests Tigers CEO and former Gateshead Thunder supremo Shane Richardson, has been consulted by the NRL over the landscape of the British game and claimed a Southern Hemisphere takeover can help put the top-flight clubs in control which in turn would lead to benefits for the rest of the sport.
- Blease sounds alarm over Super League to NRL talent drain ‘problem’
- Richardson reveals multiple details of NRL Europe proposal
- Subscribe to rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube
“There’s always tension in the game over there between the Super League clubs and lower divisions,” Solly said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The best way the NRL can avoid that is by largely focusing its energies into the Super League. That will allow the Rugby Football League to focus its attention on where it’s best, which is the grassroots, the pathways of the game and a strong England international program.
“The commercial engine for rugby league in the UK is Super League. The stronger that is, the more money there is to be invested into the pathways, participation and the England national team.”
The Rugby League Council is the British game’s decision-making body and its articles of association mean all 35 professional clubs have an equal vote, with seven representatives of the community game (BARLA, Combined Services, education, higher education, tier four leagues, tier five and six league, youth and junior) having one vote each as well.
Any resolution must be passed by at least four Super League clubs and at least four Championship or League One clubs, while any special resolution around changes to the articles of assocation – for example, the voting structure – must be approved by 75 percent of voting members.
Although the NRL are waiting for an approach for them to take a stake in the British game, which RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones confirmed in March was being finalised, their taking a 33 percent stake in a possible NRL Europe is reportedly conditional on having administrative control of the competition.
Speaking on a recent episode of James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast, Richardson claimed the RFL would still continue to receive the 27 percent share of broadcast rights, which is distributed to Championship and League One clubs plus the rest of the sport, it currently gets from Super League’s deal with Sky Sports if a new competition with NRL.
The Rugby League Council’s next meeting is set to take place in July, when the findings of the club-led review into the current state of rugby league in the UK is being overseen by interim chair Nigel Wood are set to be revealed.
An NRL-controlled European competition could well see Australian clubs becoming more involved in the running of their Northern Hemisphere counterparts as well.
Indeed, Sydney Roosters have been linked with a possible takeover of financially-stricken Salford Red Devils and rebrand of them as Manchester Roosters.
“I think if the NRL does get management control of the competition, a lot of NRL clubs will look at ways in which they can work closely with Super League clubs,” Solly said.
“That might mean official partnerships, equity investments or even ownership.
“The first part of that conversation has to be the NRL taking control.”
What those clubs forming partnerships or buying stakes in Super League outfits would actually mean is up for debate, and is unlikely to abate fears a takeover would lead to it becoming little more than a feeder league to the NRL.
