Abdo Quits, The Next NRL CEO & Players Revolt
episodePreviously titled “Abdo Quits, Players Revolt & Ref Turmoil” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 3, 2026
Transcript
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Why did Andrew Abdo resign as NRL CEO?
G'day, welcome to Kentie Blitz, your daily hit of NRL news. And Kentie, massive news today with the CEO of the NRL resigning.
Yeah, big news wasn't it? Took everyone by surprise, look. I think the timing of it has really stumped everybody. We did know last year, let's remember, that he was looking around. If you remember, news broke last August, I think it was, that he had gone and interviewed for a job at TEG, which is a worldwide sports promotion company. He didn't tell Peter Vlani's that, which I found fascinating. And then obviously the news broke today, which I don't think it's been overly well received in NRL headquarters, but he'll be, it'll all be smiling faces as we record this. We know there's a press conference on this afternoon and they'll be, Yeah, smiling faces and slaps on the back and everyone congratulating each other.
Kenny, we normally record this later on in the afternoon, but we've got a bit of big mail that we want to drop a little bit later. So stay watching the show. But we're going to talk about Abdo at the start because he started his tenure 2020. 2020.
What were the reactions to Abdo's resignation from players and officials?
As the CEO. Yeah, he did. Yeah, he was a chief commercial officer at the NRL before that. I didn't have a lot to do with him at that point. I had a little bit to do with him. But when he took over from Greenberg in 2020, when you look back on... what he has done in the game. And you look at his resume now, it's going to look pretty impressive. Under his leadership, Vegas started. If you remember, 2020 was the COVID years, and the NRL was in a very vulnerable position financially. Since then, they don't tell anybody this, but there's $120 million sitting in the bank now. I think they had about $40 million back then, which was not going to be enough to get them through the NRL season at the time. But they've also got assets.
They've bought the Caxton Hotel. They've bought hotels around the place.
Who is the likely successor to Andrew Abdo as NRL CEO?
a lot of bricks and mortar to basically shore up the game's financial position. Now a lot of people will credit that to Peter Volandes. They've very much gone through this the whole way though as a partnership of Volandes and Abdo. I call him Volandes' secretary quite a bit because He is, Peter, as we all know, is very hands-on, very heavy on his own governance of how it all gets done. And Abdo has basically been the guy that basically goes out and does all the donkey work.
We'll get to PBL in a minute. Can't he... If you look at his CV, right, and it's an impressive CV in terms of what he's done for the game recently. You know, coming out of COVID, the game survived and has flourished. Yep. It's expanded.
Yeah. Big broadcast deal came out of it.
Big broadcast deal.
What were the findings of the leaked player poll regarding game enjoyment?
Another big broadcast deal coming. Vegas, obviously a lot of expansion.
Looking to buy the English Super League.
Super League. But you have never really been a big fan. Why is that?
Oh, man.
I don't think the partnership between him and Valen is a 50-50 partnership, to be honest. For example, I've known Peter quite a long time. You went to his wedding. Yes, I did, in the 90s. So I've known Peter quite well since then. Look, there's a lot of sympathy around the NRL clubs. for Abdo because they sit in chief executive meetings and see how Peter treats him, basically. And that's why – Andrew, why haven't we done that?
How do players feel about the impact of referees on game outcomes?
Well, mate, get onto it. You know what I mean? That sort of stuff. So how much – look, I don't really want to come and shitpot the job he's done. Look, he goes with my best wishes, okay? But – I think Vegas is Peter's idea and then Abdo goes and does all the work and gets all the hard, does all the hard work, gets all the groundwork done and Peter has to come in and finish it. We know when the broadcast deals were being negotiated that basically they'd reached a bit of a stalemate, Abdo and the broadcasters. It took the Lannies to come in then and get the deal done. When the CBA with the players, the collective bargaining agreement was being done with the players, once again they reached a stalemate.
Clinton Newton and Abdo could not go any further.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why did Andrew Abdo resign as NRL CEO?
0:01–1:10
2
What were the reactions to Abdo's resignation from players and officials?
1:10–2:08
3
Who is the likely successor to Andrew Abdo as NRL CEO?
2:08–2:59
4
What were the findings of the leaked player poll regarding game enjoyment?
2:59–3:49
5
How do players feel about the impact of referees on game outcomes?
3:49–4:45
6
What financial changes occurred in the NRL during Abdo's tenure?
4:45–5:38
7
What are the biggest challenges facing rugby league today?
5:38–7:24
8
How has the NRL responded to criticism from players and fans?
7:24–38:36
Speakers
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