Dave Smith and John Grant facing a rebellion over the direction of the NRL

[Son of Minto]

Ok Phil

 

[insert.pause]

I think Smith and co are a bunch of useless hacks. I would not be surprised if this article is spot on the money.
I am involved in running a junior club and these clowns are making it harder and harder for kids to play the game.

There are certain aspects that require a business approach, but first and foremost this is a sport played by 1000s of people and the current administration largely ignore this.

These guys do not just administer the NRL competition they are responsible for the whole game of RL and they are stuffing up big time.

and yet he hasn't even mentioned grassroots, genuine issues don't see the light because the telegraph is too busy driving their own agendas.

 

[kbw]

and yet he hasn't even mentioned grassroots, genuine issues don't see the light because the telegraph is too busy driving their own agendas.

no one involved in RL mentions the grassroots.
I complain, yet our club has it very good compared to those in the country.
They have been left out to dry for years and alot of that has to do with the focus on player salaries and TV rights.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I think Smith and co are a bunch of useless hacks. I would not be surprised if this article is spot on the money.
I am involved in running a junior club and these clowns are making it harder and harder for kids to play the game.

There are certain aspects that require a business approach, but first and foremost this is a sport played by 1000s of people and the current administration largely ignore this.

These guys do not just administer the NRL competition they are responsible for the whole game of RL and they are stuffing up big time.

How so??

no one involved in RL mentions the grassroots.
I complain, yet our club has it very good compared to those in the country.
They have been left out to dry for years and alot of that has to do with the focus on player salaries and TV rights.

Isnt this more the fault of the old admin though??
DSmith has been in place for only 2 years and, from where im sitting, everything is miles ahead of what we've ever had before.

But none of this changes the fact the he has still only had 2 years to do it so far.

 

[POPEYE]

The biggest joke of all is that if say 80% of genuine Rugby League followers think Rotfield is a f**kwit what does it say about the Telegraph's research on anything they print . . . then again they probably don't care if we sneer or applaud, as long as we read

 

[insert.pause]

Will be interesting to see how rothfield regards Gorman's appointment as the new sharks group ceo, hes never been involved in rugby league either.

 

[El Diablo]

but he was the boss of his beloved Wanderderps so he won't knock him

 

[Timmah]

I think Smith and co are a bunch of useless hacks. I would not be surprised if this article is spot on the money.
I am involved in running a junior club and these clowns are making it harder and harder for kids to play the game.

There are certain aspects that require a business approach, but first and foremost this is a sport played by 1000s of people and the current administration largely ignore this.

These guys do not just administer the NRL competition they are responsible for the whole game of RL and they are stuffing up big time.

Instead of "they are making it harder and harder" - a broad statement which just smears the name of them with no actual anecdotal evidence to back it - try actually telling us WHY?

Saying it's shit doesn't make it so, give us reasons.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

So basically the old NSWRL power brokers are having a tantrum.

Whatever. f**k 'em.

 

[Brutus]

Rothfield = lol

Article loses cred right there.

I lasted 3 lines.

 

[kbw]

Instead of "they are making it harder and harder" - a broad statement which just smears the name of them with no actual anecdotal evidence to back it - try actually telling us WHY?

Saying it's shit doesn't make it so, give us reasons.

I will give you 2 examples, they have completely stuffed up the kids NRL cards that lets them attend games, I have players that recieve 5, players that receive none and the majority that do get them, don't get them until half way through the season. All in the name of collecting marketing information.

They are continually changing the process for registering kids, taking any control of the registration process away from the club and making it harder for their parents and harder for the clubs to administer their registrarions.
Again all in the name of collecting marketing information, nothing to do with getting kids to play the game.

 

[Delboy]

Th collection of info seems to be the catalyst for everything, the clubs lose control of the registrations , and if each player is supposed to do the rego on line from home. Some parents do not have pcs or the Internet,unfortunately some of the poorer ones. The clubs could previously collect the registration fee and then enter the registration, not now, all in the name of info for the knobs at the top. Follow up for fees is a nightmare

They are strangling the game with rules outside the playing field which means more qualification for the volunteers and I have been to jumior league meetings when it has ben more about corporate governance than the kids playing football. A massive disconnect at junior league level, not the fault of club administrations, a complete lack of understanding from the NRL, who pass " must dos" down to the clubs without any understanding on the difficulty in implementation. These last couple of years have been very frustrating at junior club level.

 

[El Diablo]

Sloth still at it http://www.news.com.au/national/nrl...ntinues-to-mount/story-e6frfkp9-1227133432717

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ph...-his-performance/story-fnp0lyn3-1227133440800

 

[Perth Red]

“I have been a League supporter for over 45 years and am now moving over to soccer,” he wrote.

Oh how we do laugh. It's so blatant it can only be a pish take surely?

 

[alien]

"●SECRET loans to clubs including St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers with no transparency or details of the terms."

Is this not a good point???

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Newscorp paper + Rothfield = hidden agenda. I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to destabilise the game so as to attempt to get back some control, and they will pander to certain people in the corridors of power, the same dinosaurs that have profited from the game and the fans for so long, to try and gain traction.

These articles are a good sign for league. You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs. Just ignore them and they will go away eventually and keep people informed of the truth.

 

[Brutus]

"David Gallop was good for league, David Smith is not."

One of the quotes used in this vile agenda-driven rant.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

This shit is getting embarrassing for A@L. The fool needs help.

 

[Eddie Lab]

Sloth still at it http://www.news.com.au/national/nrl...ntinues-to-mount/story-e6frfkp9-1227133432717

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ph...-his-performance/story-fnp0lyn3-1227133440800

quoting so no one else gives this muppet any more clicks.

NRL fans have given a giant thumbs down to ARL Commission chairman John Grant with only two out of 10 supporters saying he is doing a good job.
In an exclusive Daily Telegraph online poll on Monday, in which more than 2500 voted, both Grant and chief executive Dave Smith came under fire for poor leadership.
NRL HEAD HONCHOS FACING A REBELLION
Asked to rate their combined performances out of 10, most readers voted in the 1-3 category.
Despite his unpopularity with supporters and the fact he was appointed for only two years, Grant is manoeuvring to extend his job by another 12 months.
Smith was slightly more popular than Grant although 67 per cent said he wasn?t doing a good job.
The survey was conducted in reaction to the Daily Telegraph revelations of a rebellion among the clubs over the lack of transparency from league bosses.
Only 10 per cent said the integrity unit was doing a good job following recent controversy over the Paul Gallen fine and the Kirisome Auva?a domestic violence case.
Fans also voted ? almost seven in 10 ? for Smith to hire more employees with rugby league experience. Last week he hired Suzanne Young, a woman with no football background, to be the second most powerful official in the game.
Interestingly more fans favoured a revamp of ANZ Stadium over Parramatta Stadium and Allianz, the home to the Roosters.
Smith?s choice to build a new 65,000 seat stadium at Allianz, where he has spent a whopping $750,000 of the game?s money on a feasibility study, is the least popular venue with fans on the survey.
The poll results were similar to the tone of social media messages, online comments and emails on Monday from fans who appear to be just as disgruntled as the clubs.
Dave Smith is increasingly being forced to defend himself to the media. Pic: Jeremy Piper
Dave Smith is increasingly being forced to defend himself to the media. Pic: Jeremy Piper Source: News Corp Australia
This was typical of the view online from Mick on telegraph.com.au:
?I have been a League supporter for over 45 years and am now moving over to soccer,? he wrote.
?The NRL?s direction is going against the salt of the earth supporters and towards high end corporates. Prices are ridiculous, the game is all about the $ and loyalty programs are zilch.
?To (sic) many born & bred players are being let go to other clubs (like B Moz) to the detriment of the game.
?I won?t be taking my season tickets up again next year and membership will be stopped.
?Soccer on the other hand encourages kids and families to go and watch and be part of the scene. Lots of fun and excitement. David Gallop was good for League, Dave Smith is not.?

 

[Canard]

David Gallop is now the greatest sports administrator of all time:

You’re speaking to different clubs to me to the ones I’ve been having coffees with. Gallop has years of experience as an in-house rugby league lawyer before he got the job.

I’ve been working on NRL story for two weeks. The majority of people who buy our newspaper are rugby league fans. Yes, I’m told there was fan misbehaviour at the soccer. David Gallop will act on it.

That last one just sums it up for all too see.

I wish a serious dehabilitating, but non-life threatening, illness on the guy.

No one person has done more to kill Rugby League than Phil Rothfield, there isn't even on person in the AFL media close to his vitriol, hatred and dislike for the game.