Jones Defends Super League After Keary Criticism

Rugby League Commercial managing head Rhodri Jones has defended nan value of nan Super League, dismissing Luke Keary's disapproval of nan title arsenic "over-dramatic".

In an question and reply pinch Wide World of Sports, erstwhile Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs prima Keary, who joined Catalans Dragons successful 2025, described Super League arsenic "horrendous" and "unwatchable" and said clubs are "on their knees begging" for NRL investment.

The NRL, Australia's premier competition, has been linked pinch purchasing a 33% liking successful Super League, including taking afloat administrative control.

"If [the NRL] don't bargain it, they're successful a batch of trouble. All nan players are unfastened to it," said Keary, who switched to play from Australia to Ireland successful 2022. "[The Super League] is successful specified a bad way, nan crippled is horrendous complete here.

"It's nan product, nan coverage, nan news astir nan game, location is zero. You watch nan games, they're adjacent unwatchable. The sum and everything, and because we're successful French, they don't show nan games.

"One point I've appreciated complete here, seeing nan authorities of nan Super League [is] really bully of a spot [the NRL] is in. They're virtually connected their knees begging for nan NRL [to bargain in]. The players each want it."

Responding to Keary's comments connected BBC Radio 5 Live, Jones confirmed conversations betwixt Super League and NRL are ongoing and said nan 2 organisations person a "positive moving relationship".

While he understands Keary's position, based connected his successful profession successful Australia, he believes Super League is "heading successful nan correct direction" and pinpointed a number of upcoming events which he hopes will alteration his opinion.

"[The comments] were dramatic. Luke's entitled to his ain opinion, though I'm not successful statement pinch what he has to say," Jones said.

"Our figures are showing that we're having a very affirmative season. Our attendances are up, our TV audience, some crossed Sky Sports and BBC, are up.

"[Being successful France] he mightiness beryllium a small spot retired of nan mainstream successful position of seeing nan positivity for nan crippled successful nan UK, but he'll get a existent consciousness for that this play pinch Magic Weekend astatine St James' Park wherever he'll play successful beforehand of 65,000 group against Leigh Leopards.

"Luke has played astatine nan apical of nan crippled successful Australia and nan crippled successful Australia is very overmuch akin to nan Premier League complete here.

"We're heading successful nan correct direction. You saw america successful Las Vegas earlier successful nan play pinch Wigan and Warrington. The Ashes are coming present successful nan autumn pinch 2 sell-out crowds astatine Everton and Headingley [and] Wembley complete 30,000 tickets sold.

"We've sewage Magic Weekend this play which is raising nan floor plan of nan title and he'll besides beryllium progressive successful a sell-out adjacent play successful nan Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull KR.

"Luke's been successful nan title for 9 rounds, he's been successful France [and] retired of nan mainstream. We tin do a batch of things that tin person him that he's been a small over-dramatic successful his comments."