London: The world is about to have another prime minister who is mad about rugby league – and it will be a leadership spill in London, not Canberra, that makes it happen.
The man who appears certain to be running Britain within weeks, Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham, has vowed to do more to help the sport so it can gain more players and supporters across the country.
His comments at a major rugby league championship on the weekend highlight his shared interest with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, and might indicate stronger government support for the sport in Britain.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, was the president of the Rugby Football League a decade ago and is a long-time advocate for the sport, which has a large support base across the north of England.
“I think this sport does need more – it’s a brilliant spectacle,” he said at Super League Magic Weekend, a championship played over a few days.
The links between the Australian and English competitions go back decades. Australian players have often spent time in UK teams and one – AJ Brimson of the Gold Coast Titans – even played for England in the Ashes series against Australia last year.
Burnham supports the Leigh Leopards, based in a town west of Manchester and close to Makerfield, the electorate he won last month to return to the House of Commons and seek the leadership.
A fan since the 1980s, Burnham is an honorary vice president of the Leigh team. Another team, the Wigan Warriors, is based nearby.
Another key Labour figure in parliament, Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, supports the Warrington Wolves.
“I think rugby league deserves more,” Burnham told Sky Sports while attending the weekend championship.
“Where is rugby league’s recognition more broadly? Where’s the investment in the grassroots facilities?
“We’ve got amazing infrastructure in the Wigan Borough, but they do a lot of it themselves, and I’d like to see more backing for the sport at every single level.
“And it’s great to see the women and girls’ game flourishing as well. So, you’ll have two powerful backers in all of the plans.”
Burnham has made no secret of his plan to seek the Labour leadership and replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced on June 22 he would resign. Nominations for the leadership open on July 9 and no other contender has emerged, putting Burnham on track to be prime minister soon after nominations close on July 16.
Albanese, a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, has made his enjoyment of the sport a key part of his political identity. The sport has also figured in Australian diplomacy, given federal funding for plans to include a team from Papua New Guinea in the National Rugby League in 2028.
The previous prime minister, Scott Morrison, often spoke of his support for the Cronulla Sharks. Former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard support the Manly Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively.
Burnham spoke about rugby league during the weekend championship at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of the Premier League football team Everton. He is also an Everton supporter.
In his interview, however, he strayed into controversial territory by suggesting football fans should be allowed to enjoy their beers in their seats while watching a game, just as rugby league fans can.
“I’ve only got one question though about this day today,” he said in a social media post on Sunday, noting the fans having a drink during the game.
“How come these lads can do that in my seat here when we can’t do that at an Everton home game? There’s something wrong there, we need to take a look at that.”
Drinking alcohol in a seat at the football has been banned since 1985 under UK law to curb football hooligans.
Burnham’s apparent plan to look at the law comes at a time when he is conducting few interviews and making no major policy statements other than his broad pledge to give more power to the regions and set up a “Number 10 North” to operate some of the prime minister’s office from Manchester.
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David Crowe is Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.