The Hull FC CEO has aired the clubs stance on NRL investment.
Hull FC are fully supportive of NRL investment into Super League.
Richie Myler has labelled Super League ‘unsustainable’ in its current form and says Hull FC support the NRL’s plans for a stake in the competition.
Speculation has grown in recent months that the NRL, led by Peter V’Landys, will put a deal on the table to take control of the Super League competition, having seen massive commercial and TV growth in Australia over the last few years.
V’Landys met with RFL officials in Las Vegas last month, while NRL CEO Andrew Abdo recently visited the U.K., meeting the governing body at Hull FC ahead of the club’s game against St Helens.
And Myler, who has now been at the Black and Whites for over two years, believes their input will only benefit Super League and hopes to see such investment halt the ‘propping up of Super League clubs’ by their owners – a concerning reality with several clubs sharing huge losses in recent times.
“We’re very much supportive of that,” Myler told Hull Live when asked about any NRL investment and/or stake in Super League. “It’s going to be positive for the game, and while we don’t know the full details yet, the full ins and outs, any involvement from the NRL, from my perspective, is only positive.
“I think you can see what they’ve done with the Australian game and our game clearly needs more investment, however that looks. We need it given shareholders are currently propping up Super League clubs.
“We’re still waiting to hear what exactly they’re going to do. There are conversations with the RFL, but from a club perspective, you look at what they’ve done to their competition: there’s more TV revenue, bigger attendances, and more commercial and sponsorship agreements. That’s the ultimate goal; we all want that goal.
“We all want to improve our game but we all want to improve our commercial output. It’s not currently sustainable in Super League. Club owners are putting seven-figure sums in just to prop up clubs, and ultimately, that can only last for a certain amount of time.”
Myler also believes Super League will stay at 14 teams if the NRL gains control of the competition. Hull was one of three clubs – the other two being Hull KR and Wigan – that voted against the increase from 12 to 14 teams for the 2026 season, instead suggesting it should wait until the 2027 season.
“We are where we are and we voted how we voted,” he said. “We’re in a sport where you just have to get on with things. We’ve got concerns on the depth of talent and the playing pool. You can see clubs decimated with injuries and trying to find players, but I also think that also brings opportunities for younger players.
“We made our position clear from the outset, and going forward, I don’t think the number will come down, but as long as the investment comes in at the right level and we can grow the sport, then we’ll continue to be supportive of that.”