NRL to run the game in every state?

[Perth Red]

Is this the end of nswrl, qrl etc? Looks like the NRL is after taking over the running of the game at a local level

http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au...overnance/wa-rugby-league-board-mass-walkout/[/QUOTE]

Wow, just wow. This smacks of superleague and the way news ltd took over the warl and fked the game totally here. We were just recovering from the damage that did and now this. I really really hope the NRL know what they are doing, I can see clubs walking away after this unless there is some serious funding coming their way.

The WA Rugby League board has resigned en masse after a power struggle with the NRL, claiming the national governing body used “big brother” tactics to take control of the local game.

WARL board members resign en masse. Image: warugbyleague.com.au
The board claimed the NRL had wrested control, threatened to disaffiliate the WARL and withdraw its $700,000 of funding, more than half the WARL budget.

Former WARL chairman Richard Campbell said he and the four other board members resigned because they could not work under NRL rulings.

“This is about us running our local competition. The NRL has destroyed a 65-year-old management system,” Campbell said.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

I'm not sure what the NRL's thought process is here. One minute we are all praising the WARL for the quality of the Pirates bid and the support for the game when fixtures are played at NIB, then next minute, they're all resigning because of an NRL power play to squeeze them out. What the f**k man?

 

[Saint Doc]

To be honest though in terms of business strategy, I haven't seen the new ARLC make any major strategic mistakes.

Who knows what issues there were behind closed doors?

 

[Perth Red]

The bigger question is is this the first power play to take over all governance of the game at every level? The way the game has grown in WA over the last 5 years it would be pretty hard to be critical of the WA board who are all volunteers elected by the clubs to govern the game at a local level.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Need to know what really happened before judging. I'd imagine the ARLC starting imposing some new management ideas which weren't popular with the existing folk because it is their "baby". Let's face it, if the Pirates come in, which is likely, they will eventually need to yield all control to the ARLC just like it is in the east. Why should Perth/WA be exempt from centralised managementl? That was the whole idea behind the ARLC in the first place.

I can fully understand why they would be upset, but it was always going to happen. Look on the bright side, it is pretty much a confirmation that the Pirates are in.

 

[parraparraparra]

Qrl and nswrl aren't centralized

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Qrl and nswrl aren't centralized

Wasn't that a primary aim of the ARLC?

 

[Flapper]

Look on the bright side, it is pretty much a confirmation that the Pirates are in.

That's the way I see it, they wouldn't be doing this without an NRL team on the way. Crack the champers PR!

 

[ek999]

Why is it a bad thing that the ARLC is trying to run the game nationwide? I thought that was what it was setup to do. This just sounds like a hissy fit by a bunch of board members who didn't have the power they wanted anymore.

And why would clubs walk away over some board members resigning? From the article it says there is no changes to funding or staff because they are employed by the ARLC. Are you one of those board members PR?

 

[Desert Qlder]

The fact that the ARL would want control is probably a sign of how seriously they are treating the game in WA.

 

[juro]

The problem I see is that if they are relying heavily on volunteers, pissing off those volunteers is either going to cripple what growth there has been over recent years or cost them a lot to replace with paid positions.

 

[_Johnsy]

PR moans constantly that the ARLC ignres the west. The ARLC make structural changes in an obvious effort to ensure that WA is ready for an NRL side in the near future & he complains. PR is starting to sound like Hockey & Pyne.

 

[typicalfan]

Another tick for the ARLC.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Best thing ever.

65 year old management structures probably aren't what the game needs to grow. Its great that people have a passion to keep the game going, but that doesn't mean they're qualified to do what needs to be done now.

Its professional and big $$$$$ now. It needs to be run as such.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

The problem I see is that if they are relying heavily on volunteers, pissing off those volunteers is either going to cripple what growth there has been over recent years or cost them a lot to replace with paid positions.

Of course they'll pay good money. Its what you have to do to get professionals in place.

 

[elbusto]

I attended a meeting with an NRL rep in Tassie about this. Pretty simple - put in a paid admin body to manage the game - finances to be centralised - remove all of the old power bases and make the game more professional.

This will lead to a consistent approach to the management of the game throughout the country.

I totally agree with it.

It will ruffle some old feathers though.

Bad luck!

 

[Perth Red]

I attended a meeting with an NRL rep in Tassie about this. Pretty simple - put in a paid admin body to manage the game - finances to be centralised - remove all of the old power bases and make the game more professional.

This will lead to a consistent approach to the management of the game throughout the country.

I totally agree with it.

It will ruffle some old feathers though.

Bad luck!

It's an interesting model and one no other sport in the country uses. Will be interesting to see how the big boys, nswrl,qrl etc react when the NRL tells them they no longer run any aspect of the game in their states!

 

[Flapper]

You have to think it'd be an improvement right? With the amount of self interest in Rugby League boards across the universe putting in boards who have to answer to the top brass in regards to growth and development, and get good coin to do it can only be a good thing.

 

[Perth Red]

In theory yes though the board is democratically elected by the warl clubs and to be fair has done a very good job over the last 5 years growing the game in WA. The scars of 1996 are still fresh here so whenever we see a centralised model with the removal under threat of local people running the local game we are always going to be very nervous. People don't realise just how badly the game was damaged here when news ltd forced out the warl and took over the game. It's taken nearly two decades and we still aren't as strong as in the early 90's here.

Time will tell, john sackson is a good CEO passionate about growing the game in WA. If this gives him more resources to do so then it won't be a bad thing, I hope!

Do agree that it pretty much signifies an NRL team in Perth in not too distant future. Will be interesting if it is WC Pirates as that brand is a warl owned one.

 

[God-King Dean]

Relocate Perth to Adelaide.