V’landys could rule rugby league for six years after appointment as ARLC executive chairman

Peter V’landys could rule rugby league for another six years after officially becoming the most powerful administrator in the game’s 118-year history on Thursday.

V’landys was appointed the code’s first executive chairman, making him effectively the chief executive of the NRL as well as chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

“I am honoured every day to have the opportunity to give something back to rugby league and could not be more excited for the game’s future,” V’landys said in a statement announcing his appointment. “Rugby league is the greatest game of all, and we are going to take it to the world.”

It has been speculated that V’landys could be paid as much as $3 million a year in the new position.

The post is set to run for just over three years, aligning with his new term on the Commission that will begin when he is up for re-election in February.

Under term limits introduced five years ago, his time on the Commission will then be up in 2030.

However, he could be put forward by a majority of the other commissioners for an additional three years, taking him out to 2033, if they consider there are “exceptional circumstances” that justify the re-appointment.

V’landys, as chairman, can make the same determination on individual commissioners if he sees fit.

V’landys’ appointment comes in a week in which the NRL has faced criticism over its failure to secure a big-name act to perform ahead of the grand final at Accor Stadium on Sunday week.

Negotiations with Australian artist Tones and I fell over a fortnight before the decider and the parties have been at odds over the reasons.

Tones and I’s management said she was only offered the pre-game slot on September 5, but NRL sources maintain discussions had been going on since early August and details of the proposed deal were communicated in advance of the offer itself.

The sources are adamant that the ARIA award-winner’s team accepted the offer, but the arrangement collapsed because she did not want to sing her hit song Dance Monkey, rejecting her management’s claim turned it down because of a scheduling conflict.

The NRL has said it will direct $1 million to junior rugby league rather than using the money to pay a grand final act.

V’landys assumes the executive chairman’s title without a change to the constitution of the ARL Commission, which does not permit a director to be an employee of the NRL.

But the Commission maintained he could exercise both management and board member functions under another section of the constitution allowing it to create other positions “from time to time”.

The NRL said in a statement that V’landys had been endorsed unanimously by the Commission and that it had consulted its members – the clubs and states – and accepted their governance recommendations.

One of the measures put in place after those discussions was the establishment of a four-person governance oversight committee led by commissioner Gary Weiss and including commission members Peter Beattie, Wayne Pearce and Tony McGrath.

That task of that body will be to “ensure compliance of best practice corporate governance” and it is likely it will be called upon to settle any disputes that may arise between V’landys and the clubs and states.

There was unease among some league figures about so much power resting with an individual despite their respect for V’landys’ achievements, but none were prepared to oppose the move.

The NRL statement said V’landys had “overseen the most successful and transformative period in the game’s history” and his naming as executive chairman provided certainty and continuity during an exciting period for the game in which it was expanding locally and internationally.

“Peter has completely reinvigorated rugby league during his tenure and the commission is backing him in to grow the game even further,” said previous chairman Beattie.

“Peter inherited a game with limited reserves and no significant assets, one that had needed an advance from its broadcasters just to pay the clubs and players. He consistently put the fan first, and the record audiences and the biggest broadcast deal in Australian sport followed.”

V’landys has been chair of the commission since 2019 and has been acting as NRL chief for the past two months, having taken four months of long-service leave from Racing NSW to fill the gap when Andrew Abdo departed for Tennis Australia.

He announced on Thursday that he was resigning from Racing NSW after 22 years in charge.

Under V’landys’ leadership, the NRL struck a record seven-year $5.3 billion broadcast rights deal with Foxtel and Nine, the owner of this masthead, in July.

He has also overseen the expansion of the competition to Perth and PNG, the latter as part of a $600 million federal government package, as well as the annual launching of the season in Las Vegas.

V’landys faces a long list of issues as executive chairman, from frustration over refereeing and the bunker, to negotiating a new pay agreement with players, and choosing the location of a 20th team.