Arabic version: والترز يؤيد شراكة بين دوري NRL والسوبر ليغ

According to BBC News, incoming St Helens head coach Kevin Walters believes a partnership between Super League and Australia’s National Rugby League could benefit both competitions. Super League clubs rejected a £35m investment offer from the Australian Rugby League Commission last month, although talks over a possible deal have continued since last year and no fresh offer has been made.

Walters, who will join St Helens after leading Australia at next month’s World Cup, said he did not view Super League as needing help. However, he said the NRL’s support and possible ownership involvement could be good for rugby league, noting the number of Australian and New Zealand players already competing in Super League.

The NRL agreed a new seven-year broadcast deal in July worth around £400m annually to its clubs. Walters said the competition’s financial strength could transfer into Super League and said both leagues would gain from NRL involvement. St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus has also called for the organisations to work together to grow the sport globally, rather than for one to take over the other. The RFL said it was interested in a mutually beneficial and financially fair partnership that could create a single global entity for the sport.

Walters said there was no physical gap between the leagues, although he identified the speed of the game as a possible difference. He also wants to help retain leading Super League players, pointing to the NRL’s ability to offer games against elite players and financial rewards. St Helens, winners of four straight Super League titles from 2019 to 2022, have finished third, sixth and fifth in the past three seasons and are in danger of missing this season’s play-offs. Walters said the club needs “a little bit of tinkering” rather than reconstruction.