NRL boss Peter V'landys laughs off AFL's 'delusional' visions of a Sydney takeover

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys laughed off claims the NRL could lose its status as Sydney's No.1 sport following the AFL's sold out Swans final on the weekend.

With the Sydney Swans preparing for Saturday afternoon's decider against the Brisbane Lions, commentary in the AFL world has turned to the club's dominance in rugby league heartland, after a crowd of over 45,000 witnessed the win over Port Adelaide at the SCG as opposed to around 19,000 that turned up next door at Accor Stadium to watch the Sharks and Cowboys.

"It's a reminder of the giant footprint that AFL is putting into NSW," AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson said last week. "Before we're dead, AFL will take over the rugby league. I'm telling you."

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Those comments were put to V'landys on Nine's 100% Footy on Tuesday night, with the league boss pointing to the television ratings in response, while labelling Robinson's remarks as "delusional."

"I think that's a delusional comment," V'landys said.

"Whoever made that comment … facts are facts and the AFL has not got the viewers in NSW like rugby league has.

"I mean, sometimes they get 23,000 viewers on TV out of Sydney. We get a million. So it's a bit hard to say that you're going to take over when you're that far behind.

"Look, and it's the same for us in Victoria. We're not going to take Victoria over, either. That's fact as well. None of the facts and none of the figures could go near that statement. So it's a ridiculous statement to make because it's certainly ill-informed."

The NRL's battle with the AFL for crowd numbers and TV viewers will again be a point of debate when the Storm hosts the Roosters in Melbourne on Friday night, less than 24 hours before the AFL grand final.

The decision to put the Storm v Roosters match on Friday night, rather than Saturday night was designed to capitalise on a public holiday in Victoria and also to give the game some clean air.

"I think it will be a great opportunity for Melbourne Storm to be front and centre on a [Victorian] public holiday the night before the AFL grand final in Melbourne," Storm chief executive Justin Rodski told The Sydney Morning Herald.

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"We'd be really confident of a sellout crowd and it will be a great spectacle for the NRL."

With the Swans and GWS Giants both hosting matches in Sydney this month, the AFL finals series has caused some dilemmas for the NRL.

The NRL opted not to schedule the Bulldogs-Sea Eagles elimination final at the same time as the Giants' sudden death semi-final loss to the Lions, with both matches taking place in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.

Cronulla officials also lobbied the NRL for the Sharks v Cowboys game to be played at PointsBet Stadium, with a capacity of just 14,000, given it was against out-of-town North Queensland. The NRL opted against that decision, scheduling the semi-final clash at Allianz Stadium, next door to the SCG where the Swans were playing Port Adelaide at the same time.

"I can understand clubs wanting to host a final if they qualify for one," NRL head of football Graham Annesley said in response to the Sharks' request for the game to be held at PointsBet.

"But in this case, the policy is there for all to see. They know what the policy is and the operations manual is distributed at the start of the year. Once we get past week one, we move to major stadiums."