Global Round: Sharks CEO wants to see NRL play on four continents in same week

Cronulla CEO Dino Mezzatesta called on the NRL to make a planned attempt at global expansion and shared a vision to bring the race to four different continents in one weekend.

Global growth is back on the NRL’s agenda after South Sydney pulled out of next year’s proposed zero-round competition, which appears to be an option against Manley in the US this season.

Almost all clubs contacted by the AAP have since confirmed that the game in February next year is too short and Manley is still hoping to find an opponent.

But most clubs are keen to get involved in the future, believing that 2024 is a better time with more plans and a pre-season that won’t be disrupted by the World Cup.

Mezzatesta’s Sharks is one of those clubs that are interested.

Cronulla had already started serious negotiations with the UAE Business Council for an exhibition competition in Dubai, when they signed Aramex as the main sponsor, before COVID got in the way.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

But with borders opening and the pandemic clearing up, Mezzatesta now thinks it’s time for a long-term, measured plan.

In his vision, four NRL pre-season games will be played around the world in one weekend, with all the big names taking part, with matches in Dubai, Oceania, Europe and the United States.

“I think you’ll get more,” Mezzatesta told AAP.

“Instead of just tackling one country and saying it’s done, and there are only two teams involved, it might make sense to try to do a multi-faceted weekend and try to do a couple of countries.

“You’ll have eight clubs playing in four different countries and then another eight clubs that could be part of a different thing (going home).

“Because when we’re talking about global platforms, there’s also huge demand in those regions (in Australia).”

The concept will initially start as an annual exhibition, before developing as part of a competition that may have more club trips.

“You have to have some targeted approach and a long time to get this right, so it does have huge benefits,” Mezzatesta said.

“It’s about giving our game a bigger footprint. So you can’t just be a one-hit wonder.”

Mezzatesta believes the move will have significant sponsorship advantages, as most clubs already have global brands as partners.

His experience from the Dubai talks also suggests that the concept may be supported, with the NRL having a financial advantage in the proposed U.S. race.

“If South Sydney and Manly get the US off the ground, it shows that anything can happen if we focus on other regions,” Mezzatesta said.

“Papua New Guinea regularly goes nuts for some kind of activity at the beginning of the year.

“If we can learn from history, the World Club Challenge has always been of great interest in the UK.

“It would be fun to go to the UAE. They have big events and have built purpose-built stadiums to host tournaments in various codes.

“Then why don’t we think about putting rugby union first?”