Plan tabled to split NRL competition into a two-conference system
* Stuart Honeysett, Margie McDonald
* From: The Australian
* November 30, 2010 12:00AM
CLUBS have been told the game's independent commission could be confirmed as early as this week with the formal adoption of a constitution.
But there could be bigger changes afoot with plans to eventually split the competition into a two-conference system.
The idea of dual divisions, which would see the competition divided into Sydney clubs and regional clubs if the game expanded again with the addition of two more clubs, was tossed up yesterday at the annual NRL conference at Byron Bay.
Other predictions included central standards to enforce player behaviour, a new representative calender with a New Zealand-based Origin concept, a doubling of membership levels and greater representation of women on club boards and the IC.
"It was a chance to cast an eye into the years ahead and it reflected the confidence in how the game can leverage the strong position that it is in at the moment," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
It is understood the concept of a two-conference system, which is employed in both American football and baseball, was raised by both Sydney Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce and St George Illawarra's Peter Doust and widely supported.
There are plenty of franchises lining up if the NRL decides to expand again and both the Central Coast and Perth are considered the frontrunners if the game benefits as expected from the next television contract and grows its borders again in 2013.
If that occurs and the competition expands to 18 clubs, it is understood dual divisions would be encouraged with the Sydney clubs bracketed into one conference while the other would consist of regional clubs. Although there is still a long way to go, the idea would be to play teams in your own conference twice and the rival conference once.
"Some of the things that came out of today were just mouth-watering," Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said.
"They're preliminary ideas and thoughts that will get some meat on the bone over time."
Searle, the man credited with bringing the IC to fruition, first raised the issue back in May 2008.
Now Searle is about to witness all the hard work reap its dividend.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to being a club CEO," he said from Byron Bay last night. "It's been almost three years so it's a large chunk out of my life but it's been done for the right reasons.
"And there's been some good people alongside me with their shoulders to the wheel as well."
Searle said the eight commissioners had been "earmarked" but he would not reveal any names.
He did say having a woman commissioner was "a genuine focus".
