http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...power-in-battle-for-arlc-20161221-gtfvgh.html
Why Queensland hold the balance of power in battle for ARLC
As recent rugby league history demonstrates, God is a Queenslander. While the Maroons have dominated the State of Origin series this past decade, Brisbane-based John Grant has ruled off field for half this period as chairman of the autocratic ARLC.
At Tuesday's crisis meeting of the NRL's 16 clubs, the NSWRL and the ARLC, only one organisation was absent – the QRL.
Grant is their representative. When QRL chairman Peter Betros declared a month ago at a meeting of the Queensland Former Origin Greats that he supported the NRL clubs in their demand for a 130 per cent of the salary cap annual grant, he was swiftly disciplined by his board. Betros was soon being quoted supporting Grant.
The QRL is effectively controlled by former Queensland Treasurer Terry Mackenroth and Brisbane businessman Bruce Hatcher who played pivotal roles in setting up the ARLC. Grant was their nominee.
Tuesday's decision to honour the undertaking, made 12 months ago, to award clubs 130 per cent of the salary cap merely gave Grant a stay of execution.
The vote to oust Grant was adjourned until March 1 when the club chairmen will meet again.
There are too many volatile ongoing issues for Grant to survive until – as reported – March 2018, when all the accounts for a hopefully successful November/December 2017 World Cup are finalised.
The constitutional review to be undertaken by AOC chair John Coates must be in the hands of clubs by February 28 next year, the day before the adjourned vote.
The QRL hold a veto over constitutional change. The clubs can oust Grant but the QRL will not surrender power.
An intriguing analogy lies with the Tony Abbott / Coalition Conservative rump relationship.
When Abbott, as prime minister, survived a spill by his parliamentary colleagues, he promised to be more consultative, akin to Grant admitting he had erred in his approach to the clubs, before finally agreeing to their demand.
But Abbott didn't survive the next parliamentary vote and while Malcolm Turnbull succeeded him, many see the Coalition's Conservative rump as still in charge of the nation.
(OK, Mackenroth was a Labor Treasurer, as was his successor, Andrew Fraser, the NRL's Head of Strategy, while Cory Bernardi's men are Libs ... but they're all politicians).
Another contingency on any peaceful outcome on March 1 is the issue of a cap on football department spending.
NRL clubs broadly agree they are in an arms race to see who can build the most expensive Centre of Excellence, or install the most cameras at training, or hire the most assistant coaches. They concede a brake must be imposed on spending but reject the NRL's proposal of a punitive approach, akin to the AFL's tax on clubs who spend above an agreed ceiling.
Some clubs, like the Panthers, Broncos and Storm, run first class development programs and argue this outlay should not be included in football department spending.
Furthermore, the clubs argue they have already surrendered enough.
The 130 per cent deal they accepted is different to the one tabled 12 months ago.
They will lose over $5 million each in promised cash and must also contribute to a sinking fund to assist distressed clubs. They will be required to pay a premium to bail each other out when in financial difficulties.
Nor are the clubs being unrealistic in their demands to have a greater role in the choice of commissioners.
As it stands, the commissioners elect each other, despite none, other than former Kangaroos Wayne Pearce and Grant, having any experience at the coal face of rugby league.
While it has been reported the clubs and two state leagues demand representatives on the eight person commission, they may settle for simply being asked to endorse a nominee, as is the practice in the AFL.
After all, there are some smart men as club chairs and they recognise the importance of independence.
Grant has survived for now but he is an exhausted man. Even those bitterly opposed to his managerial style felt sorry for him Tuesday, while admitting he performed well under brutal pressure.
He may walk but then, he might be pushed from within.
His most obvious successor, CSR boss Jeremy Sutcliffe, talked about quitting on Tuesday, possibly frustrated at how the negotiations with clubs had proceeded.
Grant's chosen chief executive, Todd Greenberg, has not been enthusiastic in his support of his chairman, and has been linked to Sutcliffe.
While Grant was blamed for the many frustrating delays in reaching Tuesday's agreement, it was Greenberg's staff who were tardy in presenting the documentation.
The QRL have said they are in support of broad constitutional reform but they will want to install a Queenslander as Grant's replacement, should he be voted out on March 1.
Just being a Queenslander, as God knows, overcomes a multitude of sins.
