Peter V’landys Reveals The Deadline For Going FULL-TIME As NRL Boss

0:00We are now joined by the man, the Mr Legend, the man, the reason rugby league, the N.R. really still on TV. The man, the reason the N.R. really is in such a strong position. The man, the reason Willingong is on the map. Sir Peter Vellandis. Yes! Thank you, that's the best 500 bucks I've ever spent. Oh, you said five grand, mate. Yeah, but you know, it makes discount. I know, he's the best that goes, yeah. Mates rate, mates rates, mates rates, always. Over to you, Woods. Well, you got to look after him, Pete. How you go, mate, it's a big final series coming up. The one side that I'm really looking forward to is the Warriors, the Wires Nation. He got Panthers going with another minor premiership. All Roads lead to a huge final series here. Absolutely, and I wouldn't be surprised what team wins at it. It's been proven this year. If you've got the right game plan against Penra, I'm in the Bulldogs proved it. The Roosters proved it. So I wouldn't be surprised if any team won this week. And even though the bookmakers have got some of them at short price favourites,

1:00I wouldn't be betting against any team. Oh, you never know, Rugby will be, anything could happen. Big question, I ask you. Where Sharks fans by myself, X players, the game has been taken from Ocean Protect Stadium, two Allions. The reason behind it, what's that all about? Look, we want to do a Commodate as many Sharks fans as possible. And you're only going to accommodate around 12,000 at Sharks Park. We're hoping to get a lot more than that at Allions. And we want to showcase our game on the best possible venues. And it's a billion dollar stadium. And it accommodates the fans in five star luxury. And we've got to look after the fan. I've always looked at it through the lens of a fan. And if we can get five or six thousand more Sharks fans there, well, we've done our job. And another thing I want to talk to you about, we had the great joy era on the show last week. What he and people like yourself have done, it's put Rugby League on a global stage. You know, it is a terrible illness that he has been diagnosed, but mate, I don't think you get enough kudos for the amount of work you've done to promote it, to allow him to be in a change on, to get to 100 games, mate. And we just want a big thank you for what you've done. Look, I think that all the thank has got to go to Jai.

2:02I mean, what is going through and how everyone's got behind him. He's such a beautiful human being and when you're with him, and he's grabbed the heart and it just shows you what sport can do. And as sport is one of those areas that we all come together as a tribe. And Rugby League is probably the best tribe out. I mean, as soon as he went down, all of us went around him and cuddled him and made sure that he was okay and made sure that he knows that we're there for him. And you know, you can't get a better person than Wayne Bennett. I think he's done a brilliant job. And Blake Sully and Nick Papis from South, they've got to take a lot of the credit. They've done a fantastic job. They've been, you know, front and center. They haven't looked at the limelight. They've just concentrated on Jai and I take my hat off to them. That's great, man. What have you done? Huge kudos to you, Pete. Big question for yourself. We know Andrew Abdoid moved on. You've been taking those duties. Will we see you in that role long term or just intermediate? Look, I've got to make up my mind in the next two weeks. I promise both parties because I'm seeing you racing you so fast. Yeah, we know that, yep.

3:03And the other way, how you do it, mate? So, you know, they both want to know and I've got to let them know in the next week or so. And I still haven't made up my mind because I know it's, it's, look, it's a, when you do these jobs, they're 24-7. They're not just, you know, eight hours a day. Yep. You're basically going 24. And it takes it out of you. And it's just how long you can, you can do it. The thing is, I can't, I'm a person that can't stop. I just got to keep going and looking at different things and crazy left field ideas. And, you know, this in our world is very exciting. The global round's exciting. We've got two new more teams. And they take a lot of work. You know what, as a fan of the NRO and an ex-player, I would love to see you do it long-term. I've got a quick question for you because I don't know this one. You're the boss of the NRO. Who do you actually support? Who did you support growing up? Look, I was always, as I grew up in Walongong and I supported St George. And then I used to play for Ilawara. So, oh, so you played with the Steelers? Yeah, I didn't play with the Steelers, but I played the representative games for Ilawara. So when the Steelers did combine with the St George,

4:04that was the perfect marriage for me. And when I came in, I wanted to make sure the Steelers survived the joint venture, which they have done. But no, look, I've always been St George. And although in this job, you've got to remain a little bit neutral. Yeah, you do. I was going to say a couple of salary cap exemptions. Next year for a few more boys. Look, I think that the only $20 million salary cap away to the company. Yeah. But the more money you give the dragons, the more problems they have picked. I don't know. That's the case. Hey, you are a wonderful post-art man for the NRL. And I always talk about Walongong. I mean, you grew up very, very not far from where I grew up, very similar background in terms of working class area. Our parents worked their asses off until it was... They left when it was dark. They came home when it was dark. And they instilled that in us. And that represents Rugby League, blue collar sport. But when you did this landmark deal, right? This deal, this TV rights deal is... There's that many zeros.

5:05It is nearly unbelievable, but you've kept composure. One of the main things, coming from a guy who has come from nothing to now running two of the biggest organizations in the country to being responsible for the biggest sport in the country. One of the things you've said, and you've pushed into the agreement, which I love, there needs to be more content and shows around the NRL. I've always said it. With the footies show gone and other shows gone, you want more, more, more, more. How do you see that happening in terms of whether it's Fox or Nine or Seven? What sort of stuff do you want to see? And do you not want to see? Well, firstly, just about Walongong, you're right. My dad just to go to work at six o'clock in the morning. He's supposed to finish at three o'clock, but he continued to work at Midnight. That was called a Doubler. My mum worked from seven o'clock in the cafe to eight o'clock at night. So that work ethic was installed into me. Big. And I'm proven that if you want to do something, you can do it. I went to a public school. Yes. I was bullied in the playground from Walongong,

6:08but if you really put the effort in, and I hope I'm a role model for people, you know, Margaret and Ketchley. You are brother. You are. If you want to make it, you can make it. You just got to work hard. As far as the shows are concerned, yes. We've put in conditions in the contracts that they've got to promote the game. And they've got to give us shows. And they've also got to promote us more than any other sport they have on their stations. Big time. So we're doing all that. And that's been brought forward till next year, even though the contract starts in 28. So look, we've got two very good broadcast partners, and I'm sure they're going to really excel in the next couple of years. A lot of people are coming to me about the footies show. They want to back up and pitch a couple of ideas. What are you reckon? I love the idea. I think you can be the new fatty. You just need to wobble a little bit more. Two feet. I think you've got to eat a few more meat pies. That's the Walongong diet. You'll probably go as well. And pretend I'm reading the rundown

7:08when I'm watching the races. Exactly. Exactly. Good on you mate. You have well and truly saved rugby league. Oh, yes, yes. Thanks for your time mate. No worries. And you know what? Is he wearing a fitted suit? Is he still wearing that suit? He's looking beautiful. No, no. I've lost a lot of weight, so I had to go back to the Salvation Army for another six. Oh, there he goes. And I would like to eat. Yes. Stay out of the rain. Otherwise, the air will bleed, right? No, there's some poor skinny bloke without a jacket of the name. Good on you mate. We appreciate you. And we'll go. Thanks very much.