Potential NRL deal would make Super League ‘thrive’

No formal offer of investment has yet been made by the NRL, but Abdo added that the basis of a deal “needs to happen relatively quickly” in the next few weeks, with both competitions in negotiations over new broadcast deals.

Meanwhile, the negotiations have been described as “encouraging” by Rhodri Jones, the head of RL Commercial, the body that manages the sport’s commercial rights in the UK.

“The sport is open minded to investment,” Jones told BBC Sport. “The NRL is a natural fit. They are probably the front leaders in the negotiations that we are currently having with various parties.

“I don’t think this will be a long process because we’ve got some planning to do for the 2027 season, and the earlier an investor can come on board, the better it will be for everybody.”

Jones said Super League was already experiencing “a growth trajectory” and that investment would “turbocharge” it.

When asked if the ARLC wanted to decide the make-up of an independent commission that would run Super League, Jones said: “That’s their demand at this point in time.

“But at the moment, you could say that that is a ‘red line’, because it’s important that the UK game is represented. There is independence in our governance structure already.

“I think there is a workable solution between the two parties that can result in the ARLC having their comfort in that they they are in some control, but equally there is still some control in the UK game here as to how the game is running this territory.

“This isn’t a takeover. This is an investment, but it’s also a partnership. Yes, there is capital available, but there’s also synergies with the two competitions playing in the same sport, but also expertise that the NRL can bring to the game in the UK.

“It’s about the globalisation of the sport. It’s about securing the future of the sport and making sure that the sport can be seen in as many territories as possible.

“One of the key parts of the conversation was, ‘This cannot just flow straight through to the clubs into players’ wages and inflate players’ wages’.

“Yes, it goes to clubs, but it also has to service the centre. So it has to look after the women’s game, the wheelchair game, and also the community game.”