St Helens CEO Abi Ekoku has delivered a clear message: no matter what happens with the NRL's potential investment in Super League, the club's day-to-day operations will remain unaffected.

Talks between Australia's National Rugby League and British officials have been ongoing for months, with discussions centered on a groundbreaking partnership between rugby league's two premier competitions. While the rugby world watches closely, Ekoku is keeping his focus firmly on the pitch.

"I'm not worried because whatever the NRL choose to do or not to do, we still have a club to run, a competition and a business to operate," Ekoku stated. "So it doesn't affect our day-to-day decision making."

The newly-appointed CEO, who stepped into the role following Mike Rush's departure, brings a unique perspective to the table. Having previously served as interim chief executive of the Rugby Football League, Ekoku has witnessed these negotiations from both sides of the table.

While acknowledging the potential impact on broadcast deals, Ekoku emphasized that the RFL and RL Commercial are still pursuing a standalone agreement. "There's nothing to say that a partnership can't be developed during that cycle as well," he added.

Looking ahead with confidence, Ekoku reinforced the competition's staying power: "Super League is 30 years old and we have a competition that will be here for another 30 years at least."

The NRL talks represent an "exciting opportunity" according to Ekoku, who noted that more detail would be needed before any deal could be finalized. "It would be nice to know more detail," he said. "The NRL have run their competition very well. Everybody sees the benefit of having an alignment."

As the rugby league world awaits a decision, one thing remains certain: St Helens will keep their eyes on the prize, regardless of what happens behind the boardroom doors.