Peter V’landys says the NRL needs ‘Superman and Jesus’ as CEO. That person will be Peter V’landys

May 25, 2026 — 6:05pm

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For some time, the two sporting streams in which Peter V’landys swims have delivered radically divergent fortunes.

In the world of NRL, he has cemented his iron grip over the game as its dynamic chairman. He has pushed through a major expansion, placed the Australian Rugby League Commission on a more lucrative financial footing and stolen the limelight from the traditionally more dominant AFL. Fans mob him when they see him in the street.

But in the world of racing, his reign as Racing NSW chief executive has been on shaky ground amid a series of industry dust-ups and political brawls. V’landys is never happier than when locked in a battle, but he is now a man fighting on too many fronts. He has known for some time he might need to get out of racing before the heat reaches boiling point. He has just been handed a neat way to do it, with serious knock-on effects for power and influence in Sydney’s sporting landscape.

The resignation of NRL chief executive officer Andrew Abdo on Monday represents V’landys’ golden ticket. Abdo’s surprise departure to replace Craig Tiley as the boss of Tennis Australia would ordinarily send the NRL board on a hunt for a replacement who is, as V’landys described on Monday, “Superman and Jesus” all in one. But in the board’s mind, such a search is pointless because they already have their Super Jesus – and his name just happens to be Peter V’landys.

V’landys will take four months’ leave from Racing NSW to become acting NRL chief executive once Abdo steps aside in July. At a media conference, he suggested this was a temporary move. “Today is about Andrew, not me,” he said repeatedly. He also insisted he........

© The Sydney Morning Herald