ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys defended the NRL's plans to resume on May 28 after Nine suggested it was "premature". 

The relationship between the league and its chief broadcaster has been tumultuous since the coronavirus grounded the competition.

Accusations of financial mismanagement and more recent suggestions the NRL have acted overambitious by announcing a return in late May, V'landys felt forced to defend the code.

“Absolutely, May 28 is our target date, always has been,” V’landys said on Today.

"This is like a boxing match, you take a few blows to the head, a few body blows, but you save your best punches to the end and I think you’ll find on the May 28 we will start and we won’t be a problem.

“Look at the data and the facts. Don’t look at emotion and scaremongering and emotional rhetoric. You’ve got to look at the facts and the facts are for the last 12 days here in NSW, the infection rate has been less than one per cent.

“When we suspended play on the last round, the infection rate was 25.5 per cent. The health experts then said we could play. So what is the big difference? The difference is that it’s much safer now and it will be safer in five weeks than it ever has been.”

Asked by host Karl Stefanovic if the NRL would continue regardless of Nine's view, V'landys took a swipe at the network.

“It’s not premature at all," he said. "As I said, it’s disappointing that people use scaremongering rhetoric when it’s not necessary. Look at the facts. I challenge them to tell us where it’s not safe.”