By STEVE MASCORD
NRL officials will not deal with the Rugby Football League under Nigel Wood as it considers investing in Super League, according to Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson.
The comments of the experienced Richardson, formerly owner of Gateshead and a premiership winner at Penrith and South Sydney, come just two days after Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones said the British game had agreed to deal with Australian authorities via “this building” – a reference to the Manchester headquarters of his organisation and the Wood-chaired Rugby Football League.
“If anyone believes that the NRL will be involved with the so called ‘new’ regime they are kidding themselves,” Richardson tells rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“In my opinion the NRL should not deal with the current regime on any level and I don’t believe it will until a structure is established to establish true corporate governance, remove vested interests, listen to the players and the major clubs.”
Wood recently returned to the chairmanship of the RFL, sweeping aside incumbent chair Simon Johnson in a club-led coup.
While Richardson would not say if League Central shared his views on the new administration, it is likely Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo have drawn heavily on the British experience of the Wests Tigers boss and South Sydney CEO Blake Solly – the former Super League chief exec – in considering an investment in the European game.
If the ARLC’s view is in line with Richardson’s beliefs, it paints a bleak picture for hopes of NRL involvement in the sport’s second-biggest competition.
Either a new structure will have to be implemented or clubs will be poached from outside Jones’ “building”, leading to a messy split. Tellingly, Vegas combatants Wigan and Warrington were against the installation of Wood, which at present is an interim measure while a review is conducted.
It’s understood any impasse relates solely to the NRL taking over, or resourcing, what is now Super League and the Autumn Ashes series and other day-to-day co-operation between the hemispheres will not be impacted.
Richardson continued: “The governance of the game in England is poor at its best. It is a continuing rotation of the same people making the same mistakes. Vested interests rule.
“Why you would need a so called ‘new review’ when we have done the same thing over and over? I don’t understand.
“Or perhaps we all do.
“Why don’t they be honest with our supporters , they are not stupid or gullible. Just announce a 14 team comp with Bradford and London in. Save the money and embarrassment of another so-called review.
“Just get the one out of your bottom drawer.”
Questions have been raised in recent days as to whether the Rugby Football League following the recent departure of a number of directors is compliant with Sport England over independence requirements and whether the sport’s funding might be endangered.
“Vested interests have held the game back forever,” said Richardson.
“(International Federation chair) Troy Grant is right in his summary of the blood bath.
“The NRL have created a wonderful international competition in the Pacifica, using a profitable and non-vested interest approach to growing the game and a stance from the independent board.
“It’s all about governance, investment in infrastructure and listening to Pacifica and the players.
The NRL wants to grow the game worldwide. They are willing to invest to do it.
“But it understands the NRL club competition is crucial to profitability and the exposure of the game. It’s the strongest rugby competition in the world.
“Long live the Greatest Game Of All, especially in Europe.”