AS THE year comes to an end, we seem to be repeating a message that we have chronicled so many times before, that the game is on the cusp of needing to make and take some massive decisions to keep it relevant, conspicuous in an ever-changing world, and future-proofed.
As long ago as March 2020, we extensively detailed how the time was ripe for NRL Europe, including two conferences of ten in each hemisphere.
In it we posed, “How can the sport’s coherent profile be raised outside the limited boundaries it operates within, in a sporting world where only the truly global will continue to command the big resources?”
Going into 2026, that question is more prescient and urgent and we hope that some kind of mutually beneficial deal between the parties can be thrashed out next year, hopefully without the need for a top club breakaway that established football’s Premier League – although that hasn’t done badly since initially quarrelsome formation.
Coincidentally, for the first time, the Betfred Super League grand final will be on the same weekend as the NRL equivalent.
The NRL are already actively looking at a new model when their 20th club comes into the comp with their season cut from 27 rounds (including play offs) to 19, with a standalone State of Origin window, expanded international calendar after the success off the Ashes and Pac Champs, with ARLC chair Peter V’landys saying it is “perfect format.”
Subject to finance implications with fewer games – although greater worldwide broadcast interest is predicted with the plan aping the NFL franchise model – it could be the biggest change since 1988 when Brisbane, Gold Coast and Newcastle were brought in breaking the Sydney monopoly.
It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Northern hemisphere game to ally alongside.
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THE elite comp here celebrates its 30th season and kicks off with defending champions Hull KR making the short trip to promoted York.
If Mark Applegarth’s Knights need any further incentive for their pre-season training, it is that Rovers requested the fixture to help them prepare for the sold out World Club Challenge the following week.
In round five there will be two ‘foundation fixtures’, repeats of the opening set of games in 1996, between returning Bradford and Castleford and, to finish, on Sunday 29 March Leeds taking on Warrington, a game then dominated by a teenager coming to prominence, Iestyn Harris who made a mark at both clubs.
An early Friday night game in France will be a feature of the season, beginning in round one with Catalans vs Huddersfield which will kick off at 6pm UK time, followed by two British games.
Sky have picked their choices up to and including round fifteen, and the BBC will have ten games broadcast channel and five on iPlayer including on the opening weekend when the Tigers host Wigan.
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THERE will be two rule changes in the new season, one again bringing Super League closer to the NRL model.
In matches with video referees, on field officials will award tries where they believe they’ve been scored, with the reviewer to assess all awarded touchdowns without the game clock being stopped.
Referees will only refer tries directly to the video referee with a soft call of “no try”. The conversion attempt will not be permitted until the VR is satisfied that the on-field decision of ‘try’ should not be overturned.
On any occasion where the VR has not finalised their review of the decision within 80 seconds of the try being awarded or before the kicker attempts the conversion, the referee will call ‘time off’.
If the VR finds the on-field decision of ‘try’ is incorrect, the referee will overturn the decision, and the game clock will be reset to the point in time that the referee blew the whistle to award the try.
Secondly, a minute’s time limit will be applied for penalties and conversions.
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INTERNATIONAL Rugby League has appointed IMG to deal with its broadcast rights, specifically around World Cups, which has already seen it tripling its core revenue , also including global sponsorship.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “This is an exciting step in IRL’s history and our shift towards rebuilding the federation’s capability to allow us to better support our members and continue to grow the international game across the globe.
“We took some not necessarily popular but critical decisions about our operations, governance and strategy a couple of years ago, moving from an amateurishly run organisation trying to be all things to everyone, to a strategically run, lean operation focusing on what we needed to do to build the foundations of a burgeoning sport into an attractive investment opportunity.”
IMG SVP, Business Development Sam Stitcher added: “We look forward to helping IRL unlock its full commercial potential. With our global network, expertise, and deep understanding of the game, our focus will be on building long-term value and fandom, bringing the sport to more audiences than ever before.”
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TWO more templates for the governing body here.
The annual survey of over 500 NRL players by the RLPA has again thrown up worrying data on concussion. It showed that one in three players didn’t report symptoms they had experienced at training, while two in three continued to train after suffering a suspected concussion.
Forty per cent of men and 37 per cent of women returned to training before getting medical clearance, and players say they feel pressure to push through symptoms.
What makes this extra concerning is the stats have worsened year on year.
In more potential collaboration between the game here and the NRL, former Aussie CEO David Moffett has said that he wants to set up a deal with Hollywood super star Ryan Reynolds to launch a top level side in Wrexham, and claims he was close to assembling a consortium before “the current uncertainty over the future direction of the sport in the UK.”
Also formerly the head of Wales RU and Sport England, he says he will reactivate the bid when the RFL and NRL conclude their current talks over working together.
Celtic Crusaders were based there in Super League from 2009-11, making the play offs in the middle season and attracting the likes of Gareth Thomas.
“If the RFL have got any brains at all, they should be beating a path to the NRL’s door,” Moffett said. “They’re the only organisation of any rugby code that’s got any sort of idea and the money to back it.
“They need to actually make some big calls. I don’t know whether they would have the courage to but it should involve the NRL somehow.
“My understanding is that there are some clubs that would like to work with the NRL but there are others that are against it.”
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THE French Federation has transferred its offices from registered in Paris and operating in Carcassonne to new premises in Toulouse, located on Route de Bayonne.
“This change of address is not merely geographical: it reflects an ambition. By establishing itself in Toulouse, the FFR XIII is placing itself at the heart of its natural territory, accelerating its development projects and reaffirming its commitment to growth on a national scale,” they said.
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PARTNERED with the RFL, Try Tag Rugby has become one of the country’s most successful participation programmes. In its peak season this summer, more than 11,000 weekly players and 900 teams took part across 33 towns, cities and boroughs.
The RFL have also become the first governing body and sport in the UK to partner with national campaign Play Their Way to transform the way children and young people are coached and take part in rugby league.
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THE incredible Kevin Sinfield completed his sixth fundraising campaign, finishing at AMT Headingley with a Santa Dash from Leeds Beckett University after seven ultra marathons across the UK that raised over £1m. We have “run” out of superlatives for a man and his team who all but funded the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Truly the best of us.
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CONGRATULATIONS to the Leeds Rhinos Physical Disability RL side who completed the double when beating Warrington and then Wakefield in the plays off take the grand final at Orrell to add to their league leaders’ shield triumph.
Dates for your new diary. The RFL will break new ground in January by staging a National Coaching Conference with emphasis on best practice coaching in the community game and for women and girls.
Held at the Village Hotel, Leeds South in Morley on Saturday January 17, a distinguished panel of speakers includes Tony Smith, James Simpson-Hill, Genna and Grace Banks, and doctors Sam Moss and Mustafa Sarkar. For further details, click here Coaching Conference
Plus, the black-tie RFL President’s Ball hosted by Adam Hills MBE, will be held on Saturday March 28 at The Queen’s Hotel in Leeds.