NRL names new Chief Executive while targeting $50 million in cuts

September 4, 2020

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Peter V’landys has announced Andrew Abdo as the new permanent Chief Executive of the National Rugby League, while revealing the code is looking to reduce operating costs $40-by up to $50 million.

Abdo has been officially elevated from the acting Chief Executive role he has filled since April following former postholder Todd Greenberg being forced to resign.

V’landys advised that having overseen the NRL's resumption from a COVID-19 enforced hiatus on 28^th May - making the NRL the first Australian professional sport to return to play - Abdo had come through the "longest job interview in history" while expressing confidence in his ability to succeed in a full-time capacity.

Making his first statement since his confirmation as Chief Executive, Abdo said he plans to introduce a three-phase plan to protect the future of the game based on “stabilising, renovating and growing”, going on to state “the Commission has set us the task of making sure that we’re sustainable so that we can rebuild our balance sheet, ensure our finances and invest in the two things that we have to think about.

“One is the elite side of the sport, the entertainment side of the business.

“And the other is investing in the future, participation, pathways, and grassroots.

“Of course its emotional and difficult to make decisions around people and how, but we have a job to do and we have to think about interests long-term and the long-term sustainability of the game and put that above personal or short-term decisions.

“As the headquarters of the sport you’re often scrutinised by stakeholder and it’s difficult to keep everyone happy.

“But I think one thing that has shown through this crisis, if we communicate regularly and are transparent about what we are doing, we might not make everyone happy all the time but we can build a sense of trust, unity and teamwork.

“It would be fairly obvious to say that from time to time there has been a deep mistrust between stakeholders in the game … but we’re rebuilding that (with) Peter having shown that the way you rebuild trust is through actions and regular communication.”

Yesterday’s presentation to the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) also included a final presentation of the code’s 2021 budget that has set out to remove "somewhere in the region of $40-50 million" from NRL operational costs amid the current global pandemic.

Abdo and V'landys also flagged further exploration of expansion via a fourth Queensland-based side (likely to be Brisbane-based) at the end of the season, but only once the game's long-term future is secured and short-term finances are established.

Expansion plans for another Queensland side in 2022 had gathered momentum prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and NRL's renegotiation of its broadcast deals with Foxtel and Channel Nine.

With Nine's new deal expiring in 2022 and Foxtel's extended through until 2027, 2023 looms as the earliest another club would be introduced to the Telstra Premiership, though V'landys stressed that finances would again dictate any expansion plans, advising “even though I'm a very strong supporter of a second team in Brisbane, it's got to be a strong business sense ... we can't cannibalise the Broncos or the Titans.

"So there's a lot of work to do in analysing that situation. There won't be a second Brisbane team unless the business case stacks up.

"We'll be doing that at the end of the year. There's plenty of time.

"There's no time set as to when we introduce a second Brisbane team. It might be a year away, two years away, three years away. But I stress again, the business case has to stack up."

Abdo's new permanent role continues his rise after relocating to Australia from South Africa eight years ago.

Joining the NRL in 2013, Abdo’s most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing 15% revenue growth, year on year, for the four years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Images: Newly appointed NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo and ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys pictured yesterday (top, courtesy of Grant Trouville/NRL Photos) and 2020 NRL season action at the Sunshine Coast Stadium (below).

31st July 2020 - Census to capture snapshot of every professional in Australian sport

22nd July 2020 - Australian Sports Foundation survey finds Coronavirus has taken $1.5 billion from community sport

18th August 2020 - Melbourne Storm and Sunshine Coast Council agree ongoing NRL game hosting deal

17th August 2020 - NRL backs Premiership sponsor Telstra by moving to end Warriors sponsorship with Vodafone

17th August 2020 - NRL warns of ‘strongest possible’ penalties for racial abuse by fans at Central Coast Stadium

2nd August 2020 - Concerns over crowds’ failure to social distance during NRL clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium

26th July 2020 - NRL broadcasts lose more than a million viewers since competition restart

23rd July 2020 - AFL and NRL show year-on-year value gains

5th June 2020 - NSW Government to allow corporate boxes to operate at NRL fixtures from next week

29th May 2020 - NRL secures new broadcast partnerships with Nine and Foxtel

26th May 2020 - NRL’s goal to have crowds in stadiums in July described as ‘absurd and dangerous’ by Australian Medical Association

25th May 2020 - Stadiums prepare for NRL return

20th May 2020 - NRL announces six venues that will host restarted season fixtures

1st May 2020 - Coronavirus has multi-billion dollar negative impact on global sport

5th May 2020 - NRL agrees new pay deal with players to enable 28th May competition restart

30th April 2020 - Federal Sports Minister warns that NRL’s return could be threatened by players’ breach of social distancing requirements

28th April 2020 - NRL announces 20-round season schedule with 25th October grand final

24th April 2020 - NRL season on target for 28th May restart after agreement with broadcasters

20th April 2020 - Todd Greenberg forced out of NRL Chief Executive role

18th April 2020 - NRL moves forward with competition resumption in late May

13th April 2020 - Federal sports minister says NRL restart plan is ‘a bit ambitious’

9th April 2020 - Broadcaster accuses NRL of ‘mismanagement’ as league announces plans to recommence on 28th May

5th April 2020 - NRL players to lose five months’ pay as part of new shutdown deal

30th March 2020 - NRL slashes costs and backs clubs through Coronavirus crisis

27th March 2020 - NRL and state leagues announce cancellation of competitions and representative programs

26th March 2020 - NRL players face 87% wage cut as clubs stand down staff and coaches

24th March 2020 - NRL announces season suspension

16th March 2020 - Vodafone Warriors to play NRL season matches in Australia

14th March 2020 - Queensland Country Bank Stadium hosts first NRL fixture

13th March 2020 - AFL and NRL seasons to go ahead behind closed doors due to Coronavirus fears

11th March 2020 - NRL’s Bulldogs lose $2 million sponsorship following player scandal

6th February 2020 - New 2020 club participation campaign launched for NRL

30th January 2020 - NRL expands Road to Regions program following bushfire crises

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.