Before he was a big name in sports, Peter V’Landys was a student at the University of Wollongong. Photo: NRL.

A migrant kid in Wollongong to head honcho of Australia’s two biggest sports – Peter V’Landys has come a long way over the course of his career.

The NRL and horse racing boss credits his parents’ hard work and his time at the University of Wollongong with setting him up for success.

Peter migrated to Wollongong from Greece with his family as a young boy and remembers his dad working from 6 am until midnight at the steelworks, and his mum pulling 7 am to 7 pm shifts in a cafe.

He said his parents showed him the importance of hard work and education.

“Mum and Dad worked so hard, they could never come to watch us play sport or anything like that,” he said.

“But they came to see

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