In theory V'landys doesn't work for News and isn't meant to be representing their interest though.
Although he doesn't reflect their views or interest, he would love to broker expansion and not have the league pay for it, and if news ltd are footing the bill, and choosing the bid etc, atleast they aren't getting in the ARLCs way, ala another Sth Qld Crushers vs Broncos monopoly... which will only end up in failing to expand the comp in SEQ...
As unfair and as bad as it is to stomach the way News ltd has influence over the comp, atleast Vdog has used them to push Expansion and broadcasters in the NRLs favour, and not ended up fighting an impossible fight for expansion vs not only the existing clubs, but also against News Ltd... all these factions could have easily caused headaches all round, and kept the comp stagnate.
This proves that getting NRL to expanding to 17 teams will eventually get the comp to 18, and give another incentive to gain more dollars to sell a 9th weekly game, hopefully gaining support to increase to 19 teams do it all over again for a 20th and 10th game... which then will get interesting if they want to persue conferences to go beyond 20 teams or cull any existing clubs for spots to fill in areas unrepresented by the league.... or relocations... which will be 20 years from now... which then we probably won't care by then or clubs will fall away by how inept they are at running a business