The Sydney Morning Herald approached all 44 NRL club chief executives, chairmen and general managers to take part in an anonymous poll covering the big issues in the sport, with 25 responding. This is how the game’s most influential figures view its burning questions as the NRL launches its season.
NRL club bosses have called for more teams and fewer games - split over two conferences - in their say on the future of the sport.
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'Unbelievable' Vegas atmosphere wows McInnes
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'Unbelievable' Vegas atmosphere wows McInnes
Cameron McInnes soaks up Las Vegas on his first trip to Sin City as an NRL player.
The majority of club bosses who completed the survey have called for the NRL to expand to 20 teams, with each team to play the other once in a 19-round season which would reduce the workload of players by five games per year.
It comes as the NRL prepares to head to market to sell the broadcast rights from 2028, with the majority of clubs setting the NRL a target of $2.4 - $2.8 billion for five years - a significant uplift in the current deal worth around $2 billion over the same timeframe.
The survey is a huge show of faith in NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, who experienced an uplift in his rating for the second consecutive year, turning an 82 per cent approval rate in 2024 to 100 per cent this year.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys scored a 4.3 out of five in voting, securing his highest score in three years on the back of a season that included the NRL’s venture into Las Vegas and the announcement of Papua New Guinea to join the competition in 2028.
While off the field matters appear to be going well for the NRL, on the field there is nothing but admiration for the Penrith Panthers on the back of a fourth-straight title.
Nathan Cleary finished No.1 in the “player you most want to sign” category for the second consecutive year, with Penrith also earning the title as the greatest team of the modern era.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary sits behind Craig Bellamy as the second-best coach in the game.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the game at the moment?
Broadcast deal: 28%
Expansion: 24%
Growth of AFL: 16%
Player agents: 12%
2024: Concussion 18%, Player agents 15%, NRL relations 15%,
2023: Player agents 24%, NRL relations with clubs/players 24%
2022: Junior development 57%, Player agents 29%
2021: COVID 24%, Player agents 20%, Junior participation 20%
2020: Future broadcast deal 40%, player agents 25%
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo over the past 12 months?
The verdict: Andrew Abdo has enjoyed a good couple of years in charge of the NRL. His popularity with club bosses is improving.
2020 (Greenberg)
2021 (Abdo)
2022 (Abdo)
2023 (Abdo)
2024 (Abdo)
2025 (Abdo)
0
4
3
2
1
0.5
4.5
3.5
2.5
1.5
3.2
3.2
4.3
4.3
4.4
4.4
3.5
3.5
3.3
3.3
3.9
3.9
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
Do you still have faith in Andrew Abdo to continue as chief executive of the NRL?
Yes: 100%
No: 0%
Previous results: Yes 82%, No 18% (2024)
The verdict: After the tension of a protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiation with the Rugby League Players’ Association, Abdo has bounced back to claim unanimous support from the clubs. It’s a strong show of faith almost five years on from his appointment.
www.smh.com.au
