High-powered support for Abdo to stay in NRL hot seat
Not quite undisputed anymore.
They might be the best team of the NRL era, but Penrith can’t claim to be world beaters after Wigan star Jai Field twice denied Taylan May – including on the final play of the game – to lead his team to a thrilling 1612 World Club Challenge win.
May looked to have stolen the win at the death but the video referee ruled no try after being stopped by Field and Abbas Miski, giving the Warriors their fifth WCC title – equalling the record alongside the Sydney Roosters.
In front of a typically raucous sellout crowd of 24,091 at DW Stadium, twice the Panthers came from behind to steal the lead but couldn’t come back a third time against a side that had all the answers when it mattered.
Not even the ice man in Nathan Cleary could overcome the chilly temperatures and even frostier reception, bombing a certain try midway through the second half when he fumbled an Isaah Yeo offload with the tryline beckoning.
Instead it was Field who delivered in the clutch, having already raced down a flying May just short of the tryline in the
Andrew Abdo can board the NRL’s charter jet to Las Vegas tomorrow for the most anticipated season-opener in rugby league history knowing that his job is safe and secure.
Former Queensland premier and independent commissioner Peter Beattie has joined Peter V’landys in dismissing any suggestion that the chief executive was on the outer.
Beattie says: “I want both Peter and Andrew to stay indefinitely.
“They deliver as a combination. Honestly, it’s a dream team. 69th minute in a moment ironically reminiscent of Scott Sattler’s iconic trysaver for Penrith in the 2003 NRL decider.
May had burst into the backfield and was eyeing off the corner only to be dramatically pulled down by the former St George Illawarra fullback into touch.
Field also set up the only try of the second half, a grubber for Jake Wardle.
“Wigan should be congratulated on their defence. They were obviously very desperate and came up with a lot of scramble throughout the night,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
Penrith may have won three straight NRL titles, but Cleary’s side has now dropped back-to-back World Club Challenge contests – and 0-4 overall during the club’s history.
Cleary defended the club’s decision not to have a warmup game during their trip.
The Panthers attack was rattled for large parts of the contest, uncharacteristically being caught on the last tackle four times in the opening 20 minutes, twice in the hands of Jack Cole.
“They complement one and other. It’s like the Penrith halves (Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai).
“They’ve reshaped the game and we’re in a strong position but there’s more to do.”
Abdo’s future has been the subject of much debate over the last six months.
There had been pressure from powerful clubs and the players’ union around his management style and the painfully slow player salary negotiations last year.
Not that there was any sign of unrest at the NRL’s AGM last week where a profit of $58m was revealed after record-breaking handouts to the 17 clubs and the players.
Only the QRL’s Ben Ikin and Bruce Hatcher had anything to whinge about.
Beattie compares the mood in the room to how ugly it was when he first joined the independent commission and the game was in a political mess.
“Last week was like a Christmas gathering compared to my first meeting (when John Grant was chairman),” he said,
“The tension in the room used to be so immense. The game’s in such a good space now and there’s a lot of respect and goodwill.”
V’landys committed as chairman for another three years at the AGM but was already working on a succession plan, which many believe would eventually see Kate Jones take over as chair.
“Kate has a lot of ability and works very hard,” Beattie said, “She will learn from the master.
“Whoever comes after Peter is going to have a much easier job because of where the game is right now.
“With the growth of the women’s game it would be superb to have her as chair.
“She’s been there since 2020. She’s seen how Peter works. That’s important because when Peter goes you don’t want to see the whole thing unravel.”
As Beattie says, there is still much work to be done.
It’s OK to be talking about the NRL buying the UK Super League or starting a 10-team professional league in America.
But our own more important. backyard is
The AFL has announced a $1bn investment in pathways and community football over the next decade. They’ll chase kids in rugby league areas.
The NRL is currently in a legal stand-off with the NSWRL and the QRL which doesn’t help considering the two outfits run junior football.
After Las Vegas, participation and pathways need to be high on the agenda.
Then there’s expansion. An 18th team and then eventually two more.
Plus the next TV broadcast deal.
It’s why having the stability of V’landys and Abdo running the show is so important.