Nothing too Surprising
‘Be a whistleblower’: Plea from V’landys as 97 per cent of club bosses say teams are cheating
In part two of our poll, NRL club bosses raise cheating concerns, Nathan Cleary is voted the most sought-after player, and Billy Slater is the man they want if they have to replace their coach.
By
Michael Chammas
MARCH 10, 2024
CREDIT: ILLUSTRATION: JAMIE BROWN
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he Sydney Morning Herald approached all 45 NRL club chief executives, chairmen and general managers to take part in an anonymous poll covering the big issues in the sport, with 33 responding. This is how the game’s most influential figures view its burning questions as the NRL launches its season. The poll was conducted over a three-week period up to February 15.
Read Part 1: Clubs say yes to PVL, no to PNG
How many third-party deals do you believe clubs are illegally facilitating compared to five years ago?
Results
- About the same: 47%
- Less 34%
- More: 16%
- It doesn’t happen: 3%
The verdict: Only 3 per cent of clubs do not believe rival teams are facilitating illegal third-party deals for players. That’s a concern considering that number was 30 per cent when clubs were asked in 2022. ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys encouraged clubs to come forward with evidence.
What they said: Peter V’landys
“In everything you do, you base decisions on evidence. Someone give me evidence. A lot of people base it on a gut-feeling or emotion. If you have evidence, bring it forward and we will deal with it. It’s easy to be emotional about something, but if you have evidence, be a whistleblower. Come forward.
“The integrity of the sport is paramount. No one has come forward. I have total confidence in my salary cap auditors. They are ferocious. They are very hard. Sometimes I think they’re too hard, that’s how diligent and ferocious they are. If anyone has any evidence, come forward.”
The verdict: Although he recently tied down his future to Queensland Rugby League as the state’s Origin coach, Billy Slater is the one NRL club bosses want. His Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay is second.
Who do you believe is the best coach in the NRL?
Results
- Craig Bellamy: 42%
- Ivan Cleary: 24%
- Trent Robinson: 6%
- Wayne Bennett: 6%
- Others: 22%
The verdict: Despite leading Penrith to three consecutive premierships, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary still has plenty of work to do to catch up to Craig Bellamy as the game’s best coach.
The verdict: For a second year, Nathan Cleary has been voted as the most sought-after player in the NRL. A poll record 63 per cent voted for Cleary as the player they would sign if they could lure anyone to their club.
Who do you think will be the best signing of 2024?
Luke Brooks pairs with veteran Sea Eagle Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.CREDIT:GETTY
The verdict: Before a ball was kicked in 2024, Luke Brooks was voted the best recruit of the season. He proved himself with a strong showing for the Sea Eagles in their opening game of the season in Las Vegas.
Previous results: 2023: Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers) 24%, Adam Reynolds (Broncos) 26%
Who is the most underrated player in the NRL?
Panthers prop Moses Leota celebrates a rare try.CREDIT:GETTY
The verdict: For a second year, a Panthers player has been named the most underrated player in the NRL. Last year it was fullback Dylan Edwards, who finally earned his big payday with a contract extension midway through 2023. This year it’s grand final hero Moses Leota, who has taken the honour of the game’s most underrated player ahead of Melbourne’s Nick Meaney.
Previous results: 2023: Dylan Edwards 42%
Which team do you love to beat most?
Results
- Broncos: 22%
- Roosters: 19%
- Eels: 16%
- Panthers: 9%
- Sea Eagles: 6%
- Rabbitohs: 6%
- Storm: 6%
- Others: 16%
The verdict: The success of the Broncos in 2023 has led to them leapfrogging the Roosters as the most hated team in the competition. The Roosters finished a close second ahead of Parramatta. Interestingly, despite a lot of criticism from sections of the media, the three-time premiership-winning Panthers only polled 9 per cent of votes.
Previous results: 2023: Roosters 32%
Do you believe coaches should be prohibited from commenting about referees in post-match press conferences?
The verdict: Some clubs have raised concerns about their coaches having to answer questions regarding officials straight after a game. While V’landys sympathised with the 36 per cent of club bosses who wanted the NRL to prohibit coaches commenting on referees altogether, it’s unlikely the NRL will impose a blanket ban.
What they said: Peter V’landys
“I think to be fair to the coaches, they’re under enormous pressure and emotions are at an all-time high after a match is finished. They can agree or disagree with decisions, but personal abuse or suggestions of referee incompetence won’t be tolerated. If they want to question the referee’s integrity, that’s where it concerns me. Sometimes they’re better off waiting 24 hours.”
Do you believe the NRL should change the State of Origin eligibility rules to allow more players from other nations to take part?
The verdict: The clubs have spoken and they are almost unanimous in their support of the current State of Origin eligibility criteria.
What they said: Andrew Abdo
“Rugby league is on its way to being a truly international game. That’s why we fought so hard to ensure players electing to represent their countries of birth or heritage are paid the same as those who make themselves available for Australia or New Zealand. State of Origin is Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry, so we’re careful not to disrupt what makes it so special. Any potential changes will be carefully considered by the commission.”
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate the performance of the referees over the past 12 months?
Results
- 2024: 3.3/5
- 2023: 3.5/5
- 2022: 3.5/5
- 2021: 3.6/5
The verdict: The referees’ ranking has slumped to an all-time low, dropping below 3.5 for the first time since the question was asked to clubs in 2021. “Referees, like all in the game, need to be accountable,” an anonymous club boss said. “There’s no place, though, for abuse of anyone.”
The verdict: This question was answered before the Sea Eagles toppled South Sydney in Las Vegas. The majority of clubs had the Bunnies bouncing back into the top eight in 2024 after a mid-season capitulation that led to them missing out on the finals in dramatic fashion last year.
Are you supportive of the NRL’s decision to give the incumbent club 10 days to convince a player to stay if they declare an intent to sign for a rival team?
The verdict: The NRL and RLPA agreed to bring in a change to the transfer system late last year, providing incumbent clubs with 10 days to convince a player to stay when they intend to take an offer at a rival club. The change has been backed by the majority of clubs, even though it is yet to be used by any team.
Would you support a wildcard weekend (7th v 10th and 8th v 9th) before the finals series to give the top six teams a week off, to avoid teams resting players in the final round of the regular season?
The verdict: One option that has been floated to try and combat teams resting players in the final round of the regular season is to introduce a wildcard weekend. It would create more sudden-death games and give teams time to give players a break leading into the finals. It doesn’t have the support of most clubs.
Do you believe players who seek a release from a club on compassionate grounds should be able to earn more money at rival clubs for the contracted years of the original deal?
What they said: Andrew Abdo
“Honouring a contract is important to the integrity of the game. The NRL’s Playing Contract and Remuneration Rules do not allow clubs inducing players or their agents to break contract. When we’ve found this happening we’ve issued sanctions. Contracts are negotiated between individual parties but the NRL’s governance oversight mechanisms are designed so that negotiations are conducted with integrity and the rules are properly enforced.”
How many NRLW teams should be introduced in 2025?
The Knights celebrate their grand final triumph in October.CREDIT:GETTY
Result
- Zero: 61%
- Two: 36%
- Four: 3%
The verdict: The NRL will more than likely expand the women’s competition in 2025. The clubs don’t believe the competition is ready to go beyond 10 teams just yet.
Are you happy with the way the NRL creates the regular season draw and assigns the fixtures?
The verdict: Despite Nick Politis’ frustration with what he described as a “television schedule”, the clubs don’t see an issue with the random nature in which the teams are assigned their regular season schedule.
What they said: Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis
“It’s not a draw. Don’t use that word. A draw doesn’t exist. We have a TV schedule. V’landys needs to fix it. We get back to playing a proper draw, not all over the place like it is now. That’s fairness. Now the top clubs play each other twice and the bottom teams play each other twice and we end up somewhere in the middle and get a close comp. Everyone says we’re geniuses, but we’re not. It’s engineered.”
Would you support the banning of gambling sponsorship at NRL games and on NRL club jerseys?
The Sea Eagles have PointsBet on the front of their jerseys.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
The verdict: With the government cracking down on betting sponsorship in sport, clubs are bracing for change in the coming years. Three-quarters of clubs wouldn’t support a ban on gambling sponsorship on jerseys or at games.
What they said: Anonymous club boss
“In regards to gambling sponsorship, I support the removal from jerseys but it should be allowed at games on LED signs.”
Do you support the NRL’s ambition to take a State of Origin game to New Zealand (Auckland) in 2027?
The verdict: The NRL has opened discussions about taking one Origin game to New Zealand in 2027. It would be the first Origin game played outside of Australia since the clash in Los Angeles in 1987. The clubs are supportive of the idea, with 61 per cent voting in favour.
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What they said: Andrew Abdo
“We want rugby league to continue to grow and thrive in New Zealand. Just look at the stunning success of the Warriors and the New Zealand national teams - there’s a huge appetite for rugby league in New Zealand. State of Origin has proven itself to be a great way to showcase the game to new audiences. Taking State of Origin to New Zealand would be an exciting opportunity, so we are looking at ways to overcome some of the technical challenges. including the time zone and stadium.” 
