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Johns' radical blueprint for NRL's UK takeover
SEN • April 30th, 2025 4:00 pm
Matty Johns has outlined a radical plan for the NRL’s proposed investment stake in the UK Super League that could help transform the code.
Reports in recent weeks suggest that the NRL held meetings with the owners of Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves while in Las Vegas and are open to proposals to help grown the UK game.
Should a deal go ahead, Johns has warned some controversial changes would have to be made in order for all parties to benefit.
“I think it would be a great investment,” he said on SEN League’s Run Home. “Great for Super League and very good for the NRL but there is one thing they have to do and it’s a big big move and there will be some resistance.
“If the NRL were to purchase 30% but also become a major shareholder, I would look at pushing the English game back to a winter season so that their best players come and play in our competition and our best can go and have guest stints over there.
“It’s a very different game these days but think about this; imagine Manly get knocked out and Tom Trobojevic decides to go over there and play four games for Hull.
“What that does to the English game – Joey went to Warrington for a three-game stint and someone showed me on YouTube or TikTok, Andrew being there meant there was national interest in him playing there.”
