ARLC Commission Changes

[Perth Red]

In the crowd thread but put here for broader discussion. Wondered how long before the media started looking at The Game Plan and the failures to achieve strategic targets. I think Grants final words just about sum up the game since Commission took over
"we should be really comfortable with the outcomes"
Plenty of people earning big money form the game are very comfortable I'm sure. Meanwhile the game is going nowhere fast.

2017target 2017actual
Club members Fail 400,000 312,000
Social media reach Fail 5.8 million 2.3 million
Player participation 700,000 772,000
Crowds Fail 20k average 14.9k
Non-broadcast revenue Fail $154.6m $144.2m*
NRL players in education/training Success 84% 85%
People engaged in RL experiences Success 1.65 million 1.65 million
People engaged community programs ? 1.8 million Unknown



This was John Grant's moment. Never one to shun the stage or spotlight, he took his seat, adjusted his tie and ran an eye over the room.
It was late October, 2012, and we had all squeezed our way into the media conference room at League Central. Apart from the usual gaggle of reporters, every commissioner was there. Most of the NRL executive was present, too, except for a chief executive. David Gallop had been edged out the door months earlier and was yet to be replaced.
Over the next hour, Grant unveiled not just a flashy new NRL logo but the exciting strategic plan we'd all been waiting for; a blueprint that would allow rugby league to be "the most entertaining, most engaging and most respected sport".
It was called "The Game Plan" and the numbers spewing out of the projector and onto the big screen were impressive.
Average crowds of more than 20,000! More than 400,000 in club memberships! Bigger ratings! More Instagram followers! More of everything!
These were the figures. The promises inside the document were even more grand.
A quick glance of the calendar reveals it is indeed 2017. Crunch some numbers and it's clear that Grant, the commission and the people he's put in place on salaries that would blow out most club salary caps has come up with less answers than we hoped.
Average crowds sit at around 15,000; club memberships at about 312,000; ratings have improved year-on-year but dipped this season compared to last; social media reach is half of what was expected.
Is rugby league dead? Buried? In crisis? No. It's just not the sparkly professional sport we all expected it to be by now.
Is Grant and the commission solely responsible for this? No, but if you're going to live by the power-point presentation, you die by the power-point presentation.
The bottom line is this: it could be doing better.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...concern-every-league-fan-20170807-gxr6uj.html

 

[siv]

They did set the bar too high. Media love to bag people

Rather than using the missed benchmark

Can we translate it into a actual % growth or decline

 

[Diesel]

I noticed the playing numbers were 72000 high than targeted. But all we hear from Slothfield & co is that the game is losing players

 

[East Coast Tiger]

It is. This is the bullshit ARLC figure that includes touch players to fudge the truth. You don't seriously think there's more than three quarters of a million rugby league players in Australia?

 

[RockWheel]

Problem isn't with setting (possibly too ambitious) goals such as 20k average, 400k members etc. The problem is that they've done f**k all in terms of achieving those goals. Does anyone seriously believe that the administration gives a single shit about doing anything beyond token gestures to improve crowds? Improve the grassroots? Increase participation?

 

[Perth Red]

Problem isn't with setting (possibly too ambitious) goals such as 20k average, 400k members etc. The problem is that they've done f**k all in terms of achieving those goals. Does anyone seriously believe that the administration gives a single shit about doing anything beyond token gestures to improve crowds? Improve the grassroots? Increase participation?

The only area it has really done anything significant is in memberships where it employs two people per club to drive memberships. Not surprisingly this is one of the few areas where there has been significant growth.

 

[Perth Red]

I noticed the playing numbers were 72000 high than targeted. But all we hear from Slothfield & co is that the game is losing players

Well they have to justify not giving clubs too much money or expanding the nrl.
Jnr numbers and women's numbers are up. Snr men numbers are down but only this year. That number includes school programs etc but not touch (touch has around 700k of its own)

 

[Perth Red]

Kent's take on the Strat plan failures from a few weeks ago. Whilst Grant calls it aspirational, the media considers it was modest! Expect to see much more scrutiny over the next few weeks. Greenberg tweeted today that the 2018-23 plan will be released before Christmas. I wonder what the goals will be this time?

Ten years ago the AFL had a vision to be the first billion dollar game in Australia. Tick.
It wanted local derbies in all the major metropolitan centres around the country. Tick.
And while league fans are quick to ridicule the cost of sustaining GWS and Gold Coast, the AFL realise the true secret of local derbies was so much the extra team but to drive cross-town rivalries and, so, conversation.
And when they saw their game in 50 years, they thought it obvious every metropolitan should have at least two teams and so they planned for it.
Five years ago the NRL published its own, more modest strategic plan.
It was some piece of literature. Among the key forecasts:
“An NRL Growth Fund will have made $200m available for investment in key projects.” Fail. Chief executive Todd Greenberg has said he will look to lend $25 million this year for cash flow.
“Club memberships will reach 400,000.” Fail. There is slightly more than 300,000.
“Average attendance at NRL games will increase to 20,000.” Fail. Crowds averaged 16,415 in 2012 and are 15,557 this year. No year in between reached a 16,000 average.
“700,000 people will play in competition.” Fail. The number playing the game is about 170,000. Including women.
“Central revenue will have doubled to more than $300m.” Fail.
The great fear, which should reach up and with a cold hand grab every NRL fan by the throat, is the AFL’s brilliance at the Trojan horse strategy.
When the GWS Giants launched in Sydney they were careful not to threaten rugby league. Instead, the clear message was follow your rugby league team but come along and watch us as well.
Meanwhile, they recruit strongly through the school-ages, planning to keep them when they became wage earners. More AFL posts pop up at council parks with each year.
Be very clear, the AFL’s goal is to exterminate rugby league.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t/news-story/f76c12705f321128c7c9e6ec5882cdff

 

[El Diablo]

Kent's take on the Strat plan failures from a few weeks ago. Whilst Grant calls it aspirational, the media considers it was modest! Expect to see much more scrutiny over the next few weeks. Greenberg tweeted today that the 2018-23 plan will be released before Christmas. I wonder what the goals will be this time?

Ten years ago the AFL had a vision to be the first billion dollar game in Australia. Tick.
It wanted local derbies in all the major metropolitan centres around the country. Tick.
And while league fans are quick to ridicule the cost of sustaining GWS and Gold Coast, the AFL realise the true secret of local derbies was so much the extra team but to drive cross-town rivalries and, so, conversation.
And when they saw their game in 50 years, they thought it obvious every metropolitan should have at least two teams and so they planned for it.
Five years ago the NRL published its own, more modest strategic plan.
It was some piece of literature. Among the key forecasts:
“An NRL Growth Fund will have made $200m available for investment in key projects.” Fail. Chief executive Todd Greenberg has said he will look to lend $25 million this year for cash flow.
“Club memberships will reach 400,000.” Fail. There is slightly more than 300,000.
“Average attendance at NRL games will increase to 20,000.” Fail. Crowds averaged 16,415 in 2012 and are 15,557 this year. No year in between reached a 16,000 average.
“700,000 people will play in competition.” Fail. The number playing the game is about 170,000. Including women.
“Central revenue will have doubled to more than $300m.” Fail.
The great fear, which should reach up and with a cold hand grab every NRL fan by the throat, is the AFL’s brilliance at the Trojan horse strategy.
When the GWS Giants launched in Sydney they were careful not to threaten rugby league. Instead, the clear message was follow your rugby league team but come along and watch us as well.
Meanwhile, they recruit strongly through the school-ages, planning to keep them when they became wage earners. More AFL posts pop up at council parks with each year.
Be very clear, the AFL’s goal is to exterminate rugby league.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t/news-story/f76c12705f321128c7c9e6ec5882cdff

It's not relevant to NRL so of little interest to me or most on here. You seem somewhat AFL fixated.

Why would I reply to a post on afl?

 

[Brutus]

Spotted: A dishevelled former CEO Dave Smith doing his shopping in an Eastern Suburbs Woolies today. He looked like a hobo.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Spotted: A dishevelled former CEO Dave Smith doing his shopping in an Eastern Suburbs Woolies today. He looked like a hobo.

Whats he do for a crust these days? Back to the banking world maybe?

 

[Vee]

Spotted: A dishevelled former CEO Dave Smith doing his shopping in an Eastern Suburbs Woolies today. He looked like a hobo.

The richest hobo you're likely to meet.

 

[El Diablo]

good to see one of the commissioners speaking the truth

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Bump.

So clubs end up with 3 reps (given nswrl is basically mouth piece for Sydney clubs)

So much for independent, games looks destined to never cast of its two state shackles. How about a position for the other states and nz whilst we are at it?

Ive actually been wondering about this...

The clubs are powerful ATM because all they do is complain, and its easy to get everone to agree when your position is "everything is terrible". It is easy for the clubs to just complain when they arent in charge; the jester can mock the king, but it doesnt mean the jester would be better at the job.

Maybe giving the clubs some power is what the ARLC need to do to finally make the club group powerless. Now that the clubs have 2 seats, they will be squabbling amounst themselves over what they should do.

Even better, as you say, NSWRL is a puppet of the Syndey clubs. On to of that, the Sydney clubs outweight the non-sydney clubs 9-7. When it comes to voting in the 2 club commisioners and voting on "Sydney v Non-sydney" issues, the non-sydney clubs are gonna start feeling pretty lonely. If the non-Sydney group wants to shift this power balance, they might be inclined to push for exspansions and relocations or they might push to have NZRL/Pacific nations incorporated into the ARLC and represented with a seat.

And all the while, the independent board members will still have enough of a majority to do whatever they want.

The clubs power comes from their unity. Taking away that common enemy and putting them incharge will set them against each other and break their power block.

This change could be the best thing to happen to Aus RL since we got rid of NewsLtd...

 

[insert.pause]

 

[Captain Apollo]

Hartigan?! We just got rid of the News Ltd's hold on the game and they want one of Rupert's chief lieutenants back there as a Commissioner?! Frack no.

Not fond of Gyngell being in discussions either. We don't need a defacto Channel 9 Commissioner either (ps yes I'm aware of his link to the Roosters, but his links to 9 are much deeper and stronger).

 

[insert.pause]

I heard Watt was the non-syd club nominee the day he resigned from the Broncos board, be interesting to see if that's the way the cards fall.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...p/news-story/e3f2a55224dfc6733e75c48fec6e64b0

Australian Rugby League Commission on verge of historic shake up

MICHAEL CARAYANNIS, The Daily Telegraph
November 9, 2017 6:29pm

THE biggest boardroom shake up in the Australian Rugby League Commission’s history is imminent with leading sports administrator Peter V’landys and outgoing Broncos chairman Dennis Watt set to join a revamped Australian Rugby League Commission.

The duo are expected to join an expanded ARLC after 90-minute peace talks between NRL clubs and the state leagues at the office of South Sydney chairman Nick Pappas on Wednesday.

Powerful Sydney club chairmen have successfully pushed for V’landys, the chief executive of Racing NSW, to bring his experience, influence and knowledge to rugby league.

V’landys, who was previously mooted as a potential chief executive of the game, masterminded the highly successful $10 million The Everest race which was launched with unprecedented success this year.

V’landys will bring to rugby league strong government connections, fiscal accountability, extensive knowledge of the wagering industry and the strict integrity measures he has overseen in racing.

These issues have become increasingly important in rugby league with the explosion of sports betting.

Following the agreed constitutional changes, the ARLC will expand from eight members to 10, with V’landys and Watt giving NRL clubs a voice for the first time since the commission’s inception in 2012.

While neither appointment is officially across the line yet, the pair will be joined by NSW and Queensland chairmen George Peponis and Bruce Hatcher when the changes take effect in February.

Under the constitutional reform, the number of independent commissioners will be reduced from eight to six, with the states and clubs to have two representatives apiece on a 10-person body.

Current chairman John Grant is still expected to forfeit his post in February — despite suggestions he would be willing to hang on a little longer, along with commissioner Catherine Harris.

Grant will be replaced by former Queensland premier and chairman of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Peter Beattie.

Beattie and leading constitutional lawyer Megan Davis were appointed to the Australian Rugby League Commission in July.

Hatcher, Queensland Rugby League managing director Robert Moore and NSW Rugby League counterparts Dave Trodden, Nick Politis and Ray Dib met yesterday to discuss the constitutional reform at Pappas’ Sydney offices, where after months of tense negotiations change was finally agreed upon.

Watt announced last month he would stand down as Broncos chair at the end of the year. He oversaw the completion of the club’s new $27.2 million headquarters in Brisbane after being appointed chairman midway through 2013 and is understood to be keen to remain part of the game.

 

[Diesel]

Grant gone, just need to see the back of Greenberg. Dib seems hangs around like a fart

 

[Teddyboy]

Problem isn't with setting (possibly too ambitious) goals such as 20k average, 400k members etc. The problem is that they've done f**k all in terms of achieving those goals. Does anyone seriously believe that the administration gives a single shit about doing anything beyond token gestures to improve crowds? Improve the grassroots? Increase participation?

The commission did achieve bumper pay cheques for themselves.