Outgoing Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie is adamant there will be no conflict of interest problem for Peter V’landys when he takes over the role.
The ARLC confirmed on Monday that Racing NSW CEO V’landys had been elected unanimously to the top job at NRL headquarters, starting on October 30.
The appointment raised questions about how V’landys will manage his two powerful positions in rival sporting industries.
However Beattie, who has sat on the commission with V’landys for 18 months, went on the front foot to defend the appointment.
“Everything he does is not only strategic, but he acts in an ethical and appropriate behaviour. He follows that all the time,” Beattie said.
“There’s no conflict.
“In terms of the gambling issue, of course the commission discusses all of these things.
“The NRL in terms of its gambling share was behind racing. What he’s done is actually lift us up. And if the rate moves in the future, everyone will move.”
Beattie insisted the sponsorship models were different for both bodies, and that, if anything, V’landys’ heavyweight status would open more doors for rugby league.
“Being with racing gives him an enormous amount of clout,” he said.
“So when he’s talking to sponsors, to major companies, everyone’s got to take Peter V’landys very seriously.
“It’s one of the reasons why I’ve said he will be a better chair than me, because he has that clout and gravitas in the business community that I don’t have in Sydney.”
However Beattie believed that, with the current broadcasting deal set to the end after 2022, V’landys’ biggest appeal was his tenacity at the negotiating table.
The 57-year-old has been credited with turning around Racing NSW and the creation of the world’s richest turf race, The Everest.
“It’s the game that matters,” Beattie said.
“We need a chair to take us through the next round of negotiations for the media deal, with Nine and News, we needed someone who had more experience in those deals than I do. And Peter does.”
Beattie will remain on the commission until his term expires in February, ending what will be a two-and-a-half-year stint since his appointment in June, 2017.
He had always intended to hand over the reins early next year, but denied being pushed out of the role early.
“You all know this is my decision. This surprised everybody,” he said.
His legacy as chairman will include the introduction of the NRL’s controversial no-fault stand-down policy, as well as the women’s competition and Magic Round.