By STEVE MASCORD
ST HELENS chairman Eamonn McManus insists his club remains one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Super League achieving some form of alignment with the NRL.
Speaking to rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads, McManus challenged our analysis piece posted yesterday which said the Merseyside club had come to be regarded as militantly against the NRL buying into the British game.
“St Helens were the first club to table the proposition to the other Super League clubs some 15 months ago that we should seek to discuss a form of strategic partnership or investment vehicle with the NRL,” McManus said.
“We have been of that view both publicly and privately since that date but without being party to any detailed discussions.”
McManus said he would like to have been at today’s meeting in London between club officials, Rugby Football League representatives and NRL pair Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo – but has a prior commitment.
He continued: “However, we believe that the discussions should necessarily include our governing body and not just solely clubs.
“We remain of that view and have absolutely no form of resistance to open, professional and constructive discussions.”
St Helens were part of a working group appointed by the clubs to deal with the NRL – the other three teams involved being Wigan, Warrington and Hull KR.
Reportedly, Wigan’s Mike Danson, Warrington’s Simon Moran and Hull FC’s Andrew Thirkill were to be present in London today.
McManus said if a perception existed that St Helens had become in any way obstructive to talks, that perception was incorrect.
