England head coach Brian McDermott has called for Super League to accept investment from Australia's NRL to improve the English game. Talks are ongoing after Super League clubs rejected a £35m package from the Australian Rugby League Commission, and a second deadline of 15 October passed without agreement. Formalising a partnership between the sport's two leading competitions is seen as a key step in growing the European competition's revenue.
"I think the NRL's investment in Super League could be very, very positive," said McDermott, who is also assistant coach of the Gold Coast Titans. "The product's brilliant. It has always been brilliant. The product's never been the problem. The players have never been the problem. The coaches have never been the problem. It's just how it's marketed and how it's presented to people."
Super League has yet to agree a new title sponsorship deal, finalise broadcast negotiations or confirm fixtures for the 2027 campaign, with London Broncos' position still undetermined. The Broncos finished 16th on the yearly grading list despite winning the Championship Grand Final, the 1895 Cup and the regular-season standings. Backed by Australian businessman Grant Wechsel and former Brisbane Broncos star Darren Lockyer, they still hope to play in Super League in 2027.
The financial gulf between the two competitions was laid bare when the NRL struck a record A$5.3bn (£2.78bn) television deal over seven years in July. Super League's Sky Sports deal, which expired at the end of 2026, was worth around £21.5m per year. McDermott also stressed that investment would widen the talent pool for future England coaches, noting that NRL clubs oversee players across several age groups. "There's a big divide between the competitions," he said. "It's nothing to do with commitment or coaching. It's just the size of the competitions and their standing in their country."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing