Peter V'landys - New NRL/ARLC Chairman

[Captain Apollo]

Peter V should just instruct the referees to let the games flow. Minimal penalties and get rid of pedantic nitpicking. It’s as simple as that. No need for useless layers of bureaucracy like a referees’ boss. Fans want to see teams battle for field position and tries ,not getting them giftwrapped via imaginary head high tackle penalties , penalties against a player 1 step offside , penalties for slowing down a ruck which is faster than most rucks etc and dubious multiple set restarts.

Referees and the NRL seem to be on totally different pages in terms of what represents entertainment. Different books even.

Sounds like basically saying "let's just have no rules". Not a good idea. I can remember back when Bill Harrigan was refereeing and whilst he did referee well on many occasions, he would sometimes let really bad blatant stuff happen on the field because he wouldn't blow a penalty let alone take any stronger action which undermined the game he was refereeing. He had a patch of about 12 months where that occurred and I can remember blow ups week after week from fans, coaches, players - you name it everybody was up in arms.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

It’s that time of the year to discuss potential tweaks to the rules to increase the game’s entertainment factor.

Get rid of the six-again for a charge-down:

* players will go for the ball not the tackler if they know they won`t give six more tackles away if they block the kick but don`t regain the ball;

* we`ll get more of that crazy ad-lib play where the kicker is blocked and hot-potato type
football ensues as the team with the ball tries to find a kicker;

* when the charge-down is successful-and if there are more attempts there will be more successful charge-downs- we will get that rapid change in direction of attack that is so attractive, like what we see with one-on-one steals. More of this in the game would be a good thing.

I think getting rid of the six-again for unsuccessful charge-downs would add a bit more unstructured play to a game that is very highly structured as it is.

 

[Front-rower2]

The anti-siphoning list and its legislative underpinnings are unique to Australia.

And it doesn’t necessarily mean that the events on the list must be shown on FTA. All the legislation says is that FTA stations must have first dibs on any event on the list. If they want to pass up the opportunity then other media players can bid for exclusive rights. FTA stations can also enter sharing agreements or on-sell the rights to who ever they want.

 

[Captain Apollo]

And it doesn’t necessarily mean that the events on the list must be shown on FTA. All the legislation says is that FTA stations must have first dibs on any event on the list. If they want to pass up the opportunity then other media players can bid for exclusive rights. FTA stations can also enter sharing agreements or on-sell the rights to who ever they want.

Yes and for things like the AFL Grand Final,State of Origin, and the NRL Grand Final, how often have either Channels 7 or 9 declined to broadcast them or allowed simulacts simulcasts of them live since they've had the TV rights for the respective events? To the best of my knowledge, zero

I highly doubt it will change. Why? Simple, they want the eyeballs. It would only change if, say Stan acquired the pay TV rights as thy are part of the Nine group.

Also to delist and event, the FTA networks not bidding or not willing to live braodcast them is the first step in getting an event de-listed for that year. It's not the sole step.

 

[Dark Corner]

UK has a much higher penatration for Pay TV than Australia does. Plus Soccer has killed pretty much all secondary sports over there in the media. It's very hard when Soccer runs the news cycle so hard. It's not helped Rugby league to be behind the paywall. Even with challenge cup games on free to air. Bit like when Union went behind the paywall here, that saw a lot of fall off in interest.

It does my heading we have Cricket, Soccer, Rugby Union and Rugby League in England yet Soccer saturates the market and it's pretty boring.

 

[Perth Red]

Get rid of 7 tackle sets unless the ball goes dead from more than 20m out. It was never intended to give seven tackles for any turn over in the ingoal. It was brought in to stop the boring kicking the ball dead from 40m out. How it’s morphed into what it’s become I don’t know.

 

[Perth Red]

UK has a much higher penatration for Pay TV than Australia does. Plus Soccer has killed pretty much all secondary sports over there in the media. It's very hard when Soccer runs the news cycle so hard. It's not helped Rugby league to be behind the paywall. Even with challenge cup games on free to air. Bit like when Union went behind the paywall here, that saw a lot of fall off in interest.

SL has 19 games a year on fta. (BBC)
ideally next tv deal we would see a Thursday night and Sunday afternoon game on ch4 every week. That would raise its profile significantly.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

7 tackle sets are an abomination and need to be scrapped. It was a knee jerk overreaction to bring them in in the first place.

It's a joke you can attempt a field goal and risk giving the other team 7 tackles if you miss.

 

[Dogs Of War]

SL has 19 games a year on fta. (BBC)
ideally next tv deal we would see a Thursday night and Sunday afternoon game on ch4 every week. That would raise its profile significantly.

Problem is that even if they did get that, they would still get no new money. The clubs are still on relatively the same TV deal they were 10 years ago, which means they have gone backwards. Adding another couple teams isn't going to help that.

 

[Wb1234]

NRL IMAX: ARL Commission signs off on plans to launch state-of-the-art sports bar in Brisbane
Basking in the afterglow of its strongest ever ratings, the NRL is set to launch a cutting-edge sports bar that chief executive Andrew Abdo describes as a “rugby league IMAX experience”.
Peter Badel
Peter Badel
Exclusive
@badel_cmail
3 min read
October 9, 2025 - 4:00AM
News Sport Network

NRL: Billy Walters was full of praise for his Brisbane teammates after their Grand Final win and got the chance to lift the trophy with them despite missing the game through an ACL injury.
The NRL is launching a cutting-edge sports bar that will see the Suncorp Stadium precinct take over as the entertainment Mecca of Australian sport.
This masthead can reveal the ARL Commission has signed off on plans for “NRL IMAX” to light up Caxton Street as League Central looks to capitalise on rugby league’s triumph as the most-watched sport in Australia.
Three years after the ARL Commission bought their first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, the NRL will transform the site to deliver what they believe will be the “best sports bar in Australia”.
The NRL last year renamed the famous Gambaro site as The Beetson Hotel and the premises will undergo a technological revamp in the coming months with a view to a grand opening ahead of rugby league’s kick-off in Las Vegas in 2026.
The revelation comes as the Broncos celebrate their first premiership in 19 years, and just days after Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed plans for an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium.
Suncorp is set to be expanded to a 60,000 capacity – and now the NRL is leveraging its net asset base of $322.4 million to deliver an IMAX experience for rugby league and Australian sports fans.
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the project as rugby league basks in the afterglow of a ratings bonanza, with 4.46 million fans tuning in to Brisbane’s epic grand final win over Melbourne.
“This will be like a rugby league IMAX experience,” Abdo said of the NRL’s new sports bar.
“If you can’t get tickets to a game, this will be the next best thing.
“We want a great sports and rugby league theme throughout the venue.
“It will be a modern, contemporary sports bar with cutting-edge technology, using modern LED technology to provide a completely immersive experience for fans when live sport is on.
“There will be wall-to-wall screens, great sounds and a great sporting atmosphere for fans and patrons to watch live rugby league and sport.

During the week, it will be a cool sports bar where you can go for great food and a good experience for fans and sports lovers.
“The Commission has signed off on the concept and we are now working to get the right partners to help us with the build, the infrastructure and the technology.
“It’s something we want to prioritise and do as soon as possible, so we’re having conversations with different suppliers, both in design and the kind of equipment we are going to require.
“Hopefully there will be a grand opening ahead of next season.”
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys said the sports bar will be another vehicle in growing the NRL’s exploding supporter base.
“It’s going to be the place to be if you want to watch any sport,” he said.
“We are spending a lot of money on it and we’re going to make the Beetson Hotel the Mecca for rugby league and sports fans.
“It’s all to do with providing the best facilities and entertainment for customers.
“We’re in the design stage and we’ll begin installation and work in the next few weeks.
“It will be the biggest sports bar in Queensland if not Australia.”
The ARL Commission has made a $50 million investment incursion into Queensland, first buying Gambaros in July 2022 before outlaying north of $20m last year to acquire the 81-room Mercure Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast.
Abdo believes the NRL’s historic first sports bar, which has yet to be formally named, will be a major attraction for the code’s biggest events of the year.
“We will use it as a destination where we can create great moments, not just at live events,” he said.
“Obviously for our big major events like Magic Round, State of Origin, the finals series, Pacific Championships and we have a World Cup next year, this will be a great venue for fans to enjoy that.
“Whether the game is at Suncorp Stadium or whether you are going to see your team play live somewhere around the world or the country, it will be the place to go.
“We haven’t finalised the name yet, some great ideas are being debated, but it will have a sports and rugby league look and feel about it in terms of memorabilia, menu and the like.
“Whatever live sport is on at the time, whether it’s the Olympics or cricket or other sports, this will be a great place for you to watch it.
“When the season opener starts with Vegas, this will be the perfect venue for Vegas parties and for NRL celebrations and announcements.
“Ultimately, this is about capturing the imagination of our sport and winni

 

[Dogs Of War]

It’s that time of the year to discuss potential tweaks to the rules to increase the game’s entertainment factor.

The first thing I’d do is acknowledge the effort both teams put in when there is a draw at full time. Each team should get 1 point to reward their effort. The NRL seem intent on retaining golden point but if the truth be told it is usually a mess in terms of a spectacle. The answer is simply to have golden try. The teams would attack from anywhere on the field knowing they have the safety net of 1 point already locked up. This would provide wildly exciting scenarios like the miracle of Mudgee.

Peter V says it’s all about entertainment. Well that would be entertaining to the max.

Don't mind golden try. But I still think you could have the whole 10 play out so teams could still score field goals to put themselves in front so at the end of the 10 mins there is a result, even if that ends up a draw. Trading field goals can still be fun to watch, and if a team is behind I suspect they will have some trick plays to go for a try up there sleeve.

One I would like, is that now the drop out rules have changed, if the defending team kicks the drop out short, the attacking team should be able to touch the ball inside the 10 without penalty. This ensures teams will kick it further, and are heavily penalised for not going the distance with the attack at an advantage. The defence seems to have been rewarded too heavily under the current rules.

 

[James Rick]

Has the Suncorp Stadium upgrade to 65,000 capacity been confirmed?

 

[Wb1234]

Has the Suncorp Stadium upgrade to 65,000 capacity been confirmed?

Doing feasibility studies

 

[Brutus]

its already a pointless comp, this just adds to its meaningless. no wonder no-one follows qrl or nsw cup.

Get stuffed

 

[BuffaloRules]

Has the Suncorp Stadium upgrade to 65,000 capacity been confirmed?

Waiting for the AFL/Cricket to give it the thumbs up i think …

 

[Wb1234]

NRL ball-in-play numbers at all-time high as key 2025 stats revealed

The NRL is about to embark on a finals series preceded by one of the most unpredictable regular seasons ever. Here are all the key numbers.

www.smh.com.au

2025 stat 56 minutes for nrl
Ruwc 2023 34 minutes


“There have been 38 teams that, after trailing at half-time, came back to win. That’s the second-highest figure in the past six years.

The number of big comebacks is unprecedented; eight teams have prevailed after conceding a half-time deficit of 13 or more – a new record.

For the third year in a row, there have been 10 golden-point games.”

 

[T-Boon]

NRL IMAX: ARL Commission signs off on plans to launch state-of-the-art sports bar in Brisbane
Basking in the afterglow of its strongest ever ratings, the NRL is set to launch a cutting-edge sports bar that chief executive Andrew Abdo describes as a “rugby league IMAX experience”.
Peter Badel
Peter Badel
Exclusive
@badel_cmail
3 min read
October 9, 2025 - 4:00AM
News Sport Network

NRL: Billy Walters was full of praise for his Brisbane teammates after their Grand Final win and got the chance to lift the trophy with them despite missing the game through an ACL injury.
The NRL is launching a cutting-edge sports bar that will see the Suncorp Stadium precinct take over as the entertainment Mecca of Australian sport.
This masthead can reveal the ARL Commission has signed off on plans for “NRL IMAX” to light up Caxton Street as League Central looks to capitalise on rugby league’s triumph as the most-watched sport in Australia.
Three years after the ARL Commission bought their first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, the NRL will transform the site to deliver what they believe will be the “best sports bar in Australia”.
The NRL last year renamed the famous Gambaro site as The Beetson Hotel and the premises will undergo a technological revamp in the coming months with a view to a grand opening ahead of rugby league’s kick-off in Las Vegas in 2026.
The revelation comes as the Broncos celebrate their first premiership in 19 years, and just days after Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed plans for an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium.
Suncorp is set to be expanded to a 60,000 capacity – and now the NRL is leveraging its net asset base of $322.4 million to deliver an IMAX experience for rugby league and Australian sports fans.
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the project as rugby league basks in the afterglow of a ratings bonanza, with 4.46 million fans tuning in to Brisbane’s epic grand final win over Melbourne.
“This will be like a rugby league IMAX experience,” Abdo said of the NRL’s new sports bar.
“If you can’t get tickets to a game, this will be the next best thing.
“We want a great sports and rugby league theme throughout the venue.
“It will be a modern, contemporary sports bar with cutting-edge technology, using modern LED technology to provide a completely immersive experience for fans when live sport is on.
“There will be wall-to-wall screens, great sounds and a great sporting atmosphere for fans and patrons to watch live rugby league and sport.

During the week, it will be a cool sports bar where you can go for great food and a good experience for fans and sports lovers.
“The Commission has signed off on the concept and we are now working to get the right partners to help us with the build, the infrastructure and the technology.
“It’s something we want to prioritise and do as soon as possible, so we’re having conversations with different suppliers, both in design and the kind of equipment we are going to require.
“Hopefully there will be a grand opening ahead of next season.”
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys said the sports bar will be another vehicle in growing the NRL’s exploding supporter base.
“It’s going to be the place to be if you want to watch any sport,” he said.
“We are spending a lot of money on it and we’re going to make the Beetson Hotel the Mecca for rugby league and sports fans.
“It’s all to do with providing the best facilities and entertainment for customers.
“We’re in the design stage and we’ll begin installation and work in the next few weeks.
“It will be the biggest sports bar in Queensland if not Australia.”
The ARL Commission has made a $50 million investment incursion into Queensland, first buying Gambaros in July 2022 before outlaying north of $20m last year to acquire the 81-room Mercure Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast.
Abdo believes the NRL’s historic first sports bar, which has yet to be formally named, will be a major attraction for the code’s biggest events of the year.
“We will use it as a destination where we can create great moments, not just at live events,” he said.
“Obviously for our big major events like Magic Round, State of Origin, the finals series, Pacific Championships and we have a World Cup next year, this will be a great venue for fans to enjoy that.
“Whether the game is at Suncorp Stadium or whether you are going to see your team play live somewhere around the world or the country, it will be the place to go.
“We haven’t finalised the name yet, some great ideas are being debated, but it will have a sports and rugby league look and feel about it in terms of memorabilia, menu and the like.
“Whatever live sport is on at the time, whether it’s the Olympics or cricket or other sports, this will be a great place for you to watch it.
“When the season opener starts with Vegas, this will be the perfect venue for Vegas parties and for NRL celebrations and announcements.
“Ultimately, this is about capturing the imagination of our sport and winni

I love this. Why don't they doing the same in Sydney?

 

[Wb1234]

I love this. Why don't they doing the same in Sydney?

This is just a rebrand of the hotel they bought on Caxton st

Don’t think there are any hotels for sale in Sydney near Accor

Doggies sponsor already has a hotel right near the ground the rest are big brands

Smart taking advantage of all the sellouts in Suncorp now the broncos are successful

 

[Vee]

I love this. Why don't they doing the same in Sydney?

Will it pay for itself outside the big events?

 

[insert.pause]

NRL IMAX: ARL Commission signs off on plans to launch state-of-the-art sports bar in Brisbane
Basking in the afterglow of its strongest ever ratings, the NRL is set to launch a cutting-edge sports bar that chief executive Andrew Abdo describes as a “rugby league IMAX experience”.
Peter Badel
Peter Badel
Exclusive
@badel_cmail
3 min read
October 9, 2025 - 4:00AM
News Sport Network

NRL: Billy Walters was full of praise for his Brisbane teammates after their Grand Final win and got the chance to lift the trophy with them despite missing the game through an ACL injury.
The NRL is launching a cutting-edge sports bar that will see the Suncorp Stadium precinct take over as the entertainment Mecca of Australian sport.
This masthead can reveal the ARL Commission has signed off on plans for “NRL IMAX” to light up Caxton Street as League Central looks to capitalise on rugby league’s triumph as the most-watched sport in Australia.
Three years after the ARL Commission bought their first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, the NRL will transform the site to deliver what they believe will be the “best sports bar in Australia”.
The NRL last year renamed the famous Gambaro site as The Beetson Hotel and the premises will undergo a technological revamp in the coming months with a view to a grand opening ahead of rugby league’s kick-off in Las Vegas in 2026.
The revelation comes as the Broncos celebrate their first premiership in 19 years, and just days after Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed plans for an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium.
Suncorp is set to be expanded to a 60,000 capacity – and now the NRL is leveraging its net asset base of $322.4 million to deliver an IMAX experience for rugby league and Australian sports fans.
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
Gambaro Hotel on Caxton Street was purchased by the NRL in 2022. Picture: Supplied
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the project as rugby league basks in the afterglow of a ratings bonanza, with 4.46 million fans tuning in to Brisbane’s epic grand final win over Melbourne.
“This will be like a rugby league IMAX experience,” Abdo said of the NRL’s new sports bar.
“If you can’t get tickets to a game, this will be the next best thing.
“We want a great sports and rugby league theme throughout the venue.
“It will be a modern, contemporary sports bar with cutting-edge technology, using modern LED technology to provide a completely immersive experience for fans when live sport is on.
“There will be wall-to-wall screens, great sounds and a great sporting atmosphere for fans and patrons to watch live rugby league and sport.

During the week, it will be a cool sports bar where you can go for great food and a good experience for fans and sports lovers.
“The Commission has signed off on the concept and we are now working to get the right partners to help us with the build, the infrastructure and the technology.
“It’s something we want to prioritise and do as soon as possible, so we’re having conversations with different suppliers, both in design and the kind of equipment we are going to require.
“Hopefully there will be a grand opening ahead of next season.”
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys said the sports bar will be another vehicle in growing the NRL’s exploding supporter base.
“It’s going to be the place to be if you want to watch any sport,” he said.
“We are spending a lot of money on it and we’re going to make the Beetson Hotel the Mecca for rugby league and sports fans.
“It’s all to do with providing the best facilities and entertainment for customers.
“We’re in the design stage and we’ll begin installation and work in the next few weeks.
“It will be the biggest sports bar in Queensland if not Australia.”
The ARL Commission has made a $50 million investment incursion into Queensland, first buying Gambaros in July 2022 before outlaying north of $20m last year to acquire the 81-room Mercure Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast.
Abdo believes the NRL’s historic first sports bar, which has yet to be formally named, will be a major attraction for the code’s biggest events of the year.
“We will use it as a destination where we can create great moments, not just at live events,” he said.
“Obviously for our big major events like Magic Round, State of Origin, the finals series, Pacific Championships and we have a World Cup next year, this will be a great venue for fans to enjoy that.
“Whether the game is at Suncorp Stadium or whether you are going to see your team play live somewhere around the world or the country, it will be the place to go.
“We haven’t finalised the name yet, some great ideas are being debated, but it will have a sports and rugby league look and feel about it in terms of memorabilia, menu and the like.
“Whatever live sport is on at the time, whether it’s the Olympics or cricket or other sports, this will be a great place for you to watch it.
“When the season opener starts with Vegas, this will be the perfect venue for Vegas parties and for NRL celebrations and announcements.
“Ultimately, this is about capturing the imagination of our sport and winni

That artist’s impression is such bullshit, trying to make out it will look like Fremont street in Vegas. The NRL only own gambaros, they don’t own the entire Caxton street FFS.