The first big question facing Peter V’landys during his reign as rugby league’s newly minted executive chairman was whether or not the NRL could snatch a victory over the AFL in the TV ratings when the dust settles on the 2026 grand final.
uncertain
dust → face → final
Only a few months ago, the NRL chief was holding court with media bosses at the State of Origin opener, with broadcasters Nine Entertainment, owner of this masthead, and Foxtel, owned by the global streaming giant DAZN, jockeying for pride and place in the thick of high-stakes negotiations over a new media rights deal.
asserted
Entertainment → hold → deal
Those talks would eventually deliver V’landys a $5.3 billion broadcast rights deal, and set a new national record in the process.
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talks → deliver → process
On Sunday evening, the challenge was to deliver value for money – all without the draw of a major entertainment act to bring in extra eyeballs.
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challenge → deliver → eyeballs
But if V’landys was nervous, he didn’t show it, as he pressed the flesh with a cast of powerbrokers from across business and politics.
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he → show → business
Among the biggest names expected to drop into V’landys’ President’s Suite at Accor Stadium was David Brat, US President Donald Trump’s new ambassador to Australia.
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Brat → expect → Australia
Brat, regular readers will no doubt recall, only arrived on Australian shores last month, filling the post after it sat vacant for close to two years.
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it → recall → years
No doubt the grand final will offer the ambassador a speedrun on Australian diplomacy.
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final → offer → diplomacy
The biggest names usually turn out closer to kick off but after a protracted period on the sidelines following last year’s expenses scandal, Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells eagerly turned up to the stadium early.
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Wells → turn → stadium
The minister was among those who showed up to V’landys’ suite in the afternoon, working the room with an eye on the NRLW grand final clash between the Roosters and the Broncos.
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who → show → Roosters
Also at the stadium early was a man known for his love of a different code: Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who was seen with his wife, Carla Galloway, climbing the escalator to the private suites during the women’s final.
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who → know → final
Among them was Nine Entertainment director Andrew Lancaster and the company’s publishing boss Tory Maguire, who were expected to be joined by the company’s chairman Peter Tonagh.
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who → expect → chairman
Tonagh, according to The Australian Financial Review, intervened in Nine’s negotiations with V’landys to tie up the company’s free-to-air rights to the NRL.
uncertain
Tonagh → accord → NRL
The other side of the rights deal, meanwhile, was represented by Patrick Delany, who just last month was promoted to chief operating officer of Foxtel’s (relatively) new owner, DAZN.
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who → represent → owner
Foxtel heavyweight Brian Walsh was also there, we’re told, as was Tom Malone, chief executive of 2GB owner Tapt Media.
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Malone → tell → Media
But the raw power, as always, lay with who got pride and place with V’landys himself, revelling in his first grand final as executive chairman.
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who → lie → chairman
There was never any doubt that taking pride of place in the Presidents Suite was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had a seat saved next to V’landys, with Albanese’s wife, Jodie Haydon, to the PM’s side on the seating plan.
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who → be → plan
The couple dropped in to work the room well before kick off, by which time Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn was also doing the rounds.
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Comyn → drop → rounds
NSW Premier Chris Minns also dropped in to the suite, no doubt a little smug to see the grand final clash locked up by two of his state’s clubs.
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clash → drop → clubs
But that didn’t stop Queensland Premier David Crisafuli from taking up the invitation to make the trip south.
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that → stop → trip
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane was also saved a place for good measure.
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Sloane → save → measure
Rounding out the political contingent was Barnaby Joyce, who showed up well before the men’s kick off at 7.30pm.
asserted
who → round → 7.30pm
The Aporia
