LUKE Keary might be yet to truly make his presence felt on the field in the Betfred Super League, but the Catalans Dragons halfback is certainly doing so off it.
The 33-year-old, who switched to the French club from Sydney Roosters ahead of this season, has unloaded on the state of the Northern Hemisphere competition in an interview with Nine Wide World of Sports.
It comes at a time when the NRL is awaiting a possible approach from to take a 33 percent stake in the running of the top end of the game, something Australia-born Ireland international Keary claims has widespread support from the players.
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“If [the NRL] don’t buy it, they’re in a lot of trouble,” Keary said. “All the players are open to it.
“It’s the product, the coverage, the news around the game, there is zero.
“One thing I’ve appreciated over here, seeing the state of the Super League – how good of a place [the NRL] is in. The product, the support, it’s in such a good spot.
“They’re on their knees, like they’re literally on their knees begging for the NRL. Then you look at it – it’ll take that much work for them to turn it around.”
Keary’s comments come at a time when some clubs are agitating for Catalans and fellow French outfit Toulouse Olympique, who play in thr Betfred Championship, to be kicked out of the British professional structure.
It has been widely reported the NRL would be eager for both to be involved in a potential NRL Europe competition, seeing the benefits of boosting rugby league in both England and France at the elite domestic and international levels.
What the future for the Dragons and Toulouse holds could well be determined as part of the club-led review currently being overseen by RFL interim chair Nigel Wood, the findings of which are due to be presented at July’s Rugby League Council meeting.
Not that Keary claims to have a clue who any of Team Nigel, or indeed anyone else involved in decision-making at the governing body, RL Commercial or Super League, are.
“In the NRL, you’ve got Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo, and you know who’s running the show. I could not tell you one name of a person in charge over here,” Keary said.
“Literally wouldn’t have a clue who the CEO is or who’s making decisions or anything like that, and it’s been like that for a long time.”
Keary also took aim at Super League broadcaster Sky Sports, claiming he finds it impossible to watch any of the other matches in the competition.
Sky Sports‘ three-season deal signed ahead of the 2024 campaign saw every match broadcast live for the first time, with at least two exclusive games a week shown on linear channels and the rest made available via the Sky Sports+ streaming platform.
At least 12 games a season are simulcast on BBC platforms, while over 100 live games a season are shown on the competition’s own subscription Super League Plus streaming platform.
All Catalans games, meanwhile, are shown live on L’Equipe TV in France and Spanish channel TV3, but Keary insisted it was easier for him to follow the NRL.
“You watch the games, they’re near unwatchable,” Keary said.
“The way Sky do it now, or whoever’s got it, it’s near unwatchable, and the players all know it. I can’t follow it and I f***ing play in it.
“You can’t watch the games, it’s so bad – it’s horrendous. The coverage and everything, and because we’re in France too they don’t show the games.
“I watch more NRL than Super League. NRL is super easy to watch on the app.”
Should they get involved, the NRL are understood to be keen to package up the rights for a European competition with their own and the ones for internationals.
Super League’s current broadcast deal with Sky Sports and the BBC expires at the end of the 2026 season.
