The NRL is bending the rules to anoint Peter V’landys. Strap yourselves in

September 15, 2026 — 3:01am

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Later this week, rugby league’s version of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel is expected to emerge from NRL headquarters as Peter V’landys is anointed executive chairman.

In the midst of the NRL and NRLW finals series and on the eve of racing’s spring carnival, it would complete a long-anticipated permanent switch of sports for the bull-at-a-gate administrator.

The newly created position stands to give him unprecedented power, making him effectively the NRL’s chief executive as well as chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. He has held the latter role since 2019.

The dual functions of CEO and chairman are explicitly not allowed under the ARLC’s constitution, drawn up 15 years ago by the former Super League combatants News Limited and the ARL.

V’landys himself is on record as saying a removal of the separation between the board and management was not appropriate.

“I’ve always believed in proper corporate governance, so it would be hypocritical to do anything other than that,” he told this masthead in........

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