Super League is heading for ‘crash’ without growing revenue, says NRL boss

V’landys said there is no concrete offer for the NRL to buy into Super League, but added any deal would be conditional on the establishment of an independent governing body.

Asked if the NRL would take a stake in Super League, he said: “It could. That’s an option if they want to.

‘To make this possible, a structural change in corporate governance must take place. You need an independent body to govern the competition and that is one of the reasons why Australia is so successful in rugby league. It is completely independent.

“You have to have independent decision-making because independent decision-making is always in the best interests of the game as a whole and not for individual interest groups.

“We are only here out of loyalty to Mike Danson and Simon Moran to listen, and if there is any way we can help, we will help. But we are not here to impose ourselves on anyone or be part of anything. We are here to listen and hopefully be able to help.”

V’landys saw Australia beat England 26-6 at Wembley on Saturday in front of 60,812 fans, a record crowd for a Rugby League Ashes Test in Britain.

He claims this is evidence of the interest in the sport in England, but believes the game’s authorities have not helped themselves, suggesting that a city the size of London should have a team in the Super League.

London Broncos, who are subject to Australian investment including Kangaroos legend Darren Lockyer, missed out on a place in the newly expanded Super League for next season.

Instead, Bradford Bulls were promoted earlier this month at the expense of Salford Red Devils under the league’s ratings system, with Toulouse and York selected by an independent panel to join them.

Before the announcement, the Broncos had already done that appointed former South Sydney Rabbitohs boss Jason Demetriou a three-year deal to become their head coach and signed former Australian international Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tongan hooker Siliva Havili for next season.

V’landys said: “London should have been the first one they chose because if you’re going to market something you have to sell it in a densely populated city.

“You need to grow your revenue. Sponsors would be interested in London. And they missed that opportunity in this round anyway. So yes, they need to be able to market the game better than they are now… they don’t have the right structure right now to move the product forward.”

When asked about the Super League’s expansion to 14 teams, V’landys said: “Are they going to get extra broadcast revenue? Are they going to get extra exposure? Are they going to get extra participation? That hasn’t been explained.

‘There is no plan. They need to have a road map and a plan for the next ten years. Because ten years comes very quickly and unless you have that plan, you’re going in all directions without any purpose.

“There have certainly been some positives. Their attendance has improved, their ratings have improved, but you also have to have a very strong financial foundation and at the moment that isn’t there.”