Bulldogs CEO makes call on vacant NRL CEO position

Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton has spoken as to whether he is considering being the NRL’s next CEO.

With Andrew Abdo departing after six years in the top job, plenty of contenders have emerged to replace him.

Names such as former QRL CEO Ben Ikin, South Sydney CEO Blake Solly and the NRL’s Executive General Manager of Corporate Affairs Misha Zelinsky have all been thrown up as potential candidates.

With Abdo becoming Tennis Australia’s next CEO, SEN’s Jimmy Smith named Warburton as one of two options Peter V’Landys should consider for the role.

The pipeline of Bulldogs CEO to the NRL’s top job is not an uncommon one, with Todd Greenberg having followed this trajectory in his professional career.

But as Warburton explained when asked by Smith if he would put his hand up, he is more focused on the future of the Dogs.

“For me, short answer, no,” he told SEN’s Kick Off.

“I came back to the Bulldogs in 2021, and fast forward (five years), we're now at the bottom of the next phase for the Bulldogs.

“So, we talk about, we're on our feet as a club, and that excites me.

“We've proven that we're the Bulldogs again, and people are respectfully starting to hate us again. That's because we were performing last year.

“And that's the Bulldogs. That's Manly when they're performing, that's all the clubs (when they’re performing).

“That for me is a reset moment, and the next five years excite me more than the first five years.

“I think Peter has got a plan, so watch this space.”

The Bulldogs will take on the Eels in their King’s Birthday clash on Monday at Accor Stadium.

SEN will have live coverage of the match beginning from 3pm AEST with kick-off taking place at 4pm.