When board members go rogue! He's just put millions of $'s of WA Govt funding for RL at risk. I thought he was supposed to be some sort of smart stakeholder manager? Not surprised to see such a damaging article hosted by the Telegraph. Todd had better get on the phone and suggest to our new Chair he keeps his opinions to himself until they become ARLC agreed policy!
New ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has revealed plans to launch a second NRL team in Brisbane to ensure the health of State of Origin and crush the rival AFL code in the key Queensland market.
In his most candid interview since succeeding Peter Beattie, V’landys has laid bare his strategic blueprint, outlining his desire for a 17-team premiership and why Brisbane – not Perth – is the next region in line to receive an NRL licence.
For the past decade, NRL bosses have dithered on expansion and failed to capitalise on the mostly pathetic performances of AFL’s Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns in the south-east Queensland sector.
But now, as the Lions claw back to title credibility, V’landys – viewed as a visionary administrator not afraid to make the tough calls – will ramp up plans for a second Brisbane team to join forces with the Broncos in dominating the AFL in Queensland.
Lauded as the man who saved horse racing with his commercial nous, V’landys is primed to bring a new corporate edge to the NRL.
“I can see 17 teams in the next broadcast deal working.
“I am not going to pre-empt the ARL Commission’s decision, but having a second team in Brisbane is 100 per cent an option.
“This is only my view, but Brisbane can sustain a second team, no question.
V’landys’ views on Perth are compelling. There has been a concerted push for the NRL to revisit Perth as part of their expansionary footprint following the axing of the Western Reds after three seasons of operation between 1995-97.
Two decades on, Perth is flexing its muscle. Western Australia’s new $1 billion Optus Stadium hosted State of Origin for the first time in June and rugby league will return to Perth next year with the relaunch of the NRL Nines.
But V’landys is not convinced the NRL will take off in AFL-dominated Perth. He wants to reward generations of diehard league fans in Queensland.
“We want to dominate the market in Queensland,” he said. “Forget wasting millions in rusted-on AFL states.
“We must undertake a full analysis (of growth markets) but Perth does not have a huge league audience. Then there is the concern around flying NRL players five hours when we already hear criticism of player workloads and how taxing the season is on the stars of the game.
“I had a good chat with Ben Ikin (QRL board member and former Queensland Origin player) about this.
“He gave a presentation to me recently and he was spot on and so insightful. He was brilliant. He made it clear that we don’t need Queensland strong for the NRL only, we need Queensland strong for State of Origin.
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