Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has predicted league and rugby union will have to join forces in order to avoid being swamped by the booming AFL.
Fitzgerald, the longest serving CEO in rugby league history, says the rugby codes will have to look outside the box to stay ahead of thwe competition.
"I think there will come a time when the two codes will join," Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph.
"To me, it just makes commercial sense. I'd like to think it would happen in my lifetime, however long that is. Maybe within 20 years."
Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has flagged the possibility of rugby league and rugby union working together to keep their heads above water.
Fitzgerald also said the NSW government's poker machine tax was a threat to all Sydney clubs, and expressed concern for his beloved Eels.
"The fans will be absolutely up in arms."
But despite his concern about the dangers posed by other football codes, Fitzgerald had no reservations about which code is at the top of the list.
"There is plenty of competition and we have to concentrate on our game, which is very resilient,” said Fitzgerald.
“I don't know of any other code that could have survived Super League and the one year (1997) of the split competition.”
