Leeds Rhinos hail 'gamechanger' NRL deal as Derek Beaumont likens deadline to 'ransom'

Long-serving chairman Paul Caddick has hailed the proposed partnership as a "gamechanger for the sport in this country".

The two competitions are understood to be close to agreeing a deal, although its completion is dependent on London Broncos being promoted despite finishing 16th in last week's IMG gradings, below fellow Championship club Barrow Raiders.

While the Broncos were comfortably the best team in the second tier this year, there is opposition to their elevation.

Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont argued on social media over the weekend that any expansion must follow the established criteria and selection process.

Caddick offered a contrasting view in a rare statement issued on Monday morning, one that was swiftly supported by the two Hull clubs and St Helens.

"Leeds Rhinos and the Caddick Group give their wholehearted support to a working arrangement between the Super League and NRL," he said. "I believe this will be a gamechanger for the sport in this country.

"We worked closely with the NRL earlier this year for our game in Las Vegas and have grown strong relationships with them. They are an outstanding organisation with a drive and vision for rugby league.

"On the eve of the Rugby League World Cup beginning this week in Australia, it can only be a good thing for our sport to bring both competitions closer together and create a global sport.

"We welcome the NRL's involvement in Super League and hope a deal can be struck as soon as possible so we can start building towards a bright future for the game in Europe."

NRL chief Peter V’landys has set a deadline of Thursday, coinciding with the start of the World Cup.

Beaumont's lengthy statement challenged both V’landys' approach and the proposal to make London's promotion a condition of the agreement.

"Giving a deadline on something you want that the other side cannot commit to is a gun to the head approach akin to a ransom," he wrote.

"It is not right to just put London in SL (Super League). The rules at the start of the year were that IMG grading determines SL. Therefore if clubs were to agree to expand then it would need to be Barrow or there is risk of legal consequences.

"If the expansion is not at full funding and Barrow didn’t want to enter then it’s not simply next team down it would need to be an application process as per the precedent set the previous year to increase to 14 teams.

"Therefore I will not vote to add London to SL without due process and most certainly not because someone insists upon it without substance and hadn’t previously done so.

"When PVL met with clubs via teams he inferred that SL would like 15 teams. I asked him where had he obtained that information. He stated only from London. Well off (sic) course they would like 15 teams – so would Salford and Widnes and Doncaster to name but a few if they were the 15th team.

"There was no insistence in that meeting that London were a part of it however having wet (sic) the appetite in the pitch it then became a condition and furthermore that the guaranteed funding to clubs would have to be reduced to include them."