First of all, good on them.
Secondly, a large swathe of QLD Cup clubs are against it too because it will affect their competition a whole lot more.
Thirdly, why do you think a national reserve grade is a good idea anyway? Not many sports do it (European soccer) because it is not a particularly good idea. I know the fumblers don’t for example. It’s also an anti growth, anti expansion idea and will give even more power to clubs which is not what you or I want
First, yes they are entitled to vote in their own interests. But their own interests go against the growth and overall benefit of the game. It’s a ball and chain around the code that was meant to be fixed in the early 90s (Bradley report) and again after 95 (Kerrigan report). It should have been fixed during the merger of ARL and SL.
If rugby league had a professional and modern governance framework, second tier clubs (be they from NSW or QLD) would never have any say in what NRL want to achieve. It completely undermines the growth of the game on all levels.
Secondly, see the above point. Same thing for QLD clubs.
Thirdly, I’m neither here nor there on a national reserve grade competition. There’s pros and cons to the proposal I imagine. Just as their are pros and cons (more cons though) to retaining the current QLD and NSW voting set up.
My point was aimed specifically at the governance framework of RL. I can’t even begin to fathom how NSWRL and QRL and clubs like Newtown have voting rights that undermine NRLs decision making ability.
AFL doesn’t allow any state based organisations or clubs voting rights. It’s the commission and the 18 clubs and that’s it. For very good reason.
Finally, my point goes back to PVL - what’s his vision for the game? I don’t see a long term vision. It’s all short term ideas and reactionary thinking.
Redcliffe was clearly the wrong spot to put brisbane 2. Broncos are already based in north at red hill. News Ltd don’t want a team south of the river so PVL agreed to Redcliffe. The club was set up in a hurry and without any concessions. Compared to how the Titans were set up, it’s a shambles. Very reminiscent of the 4 team expansion in 1995 with perth, Auckland, NQ and crushers. No actually fwd planning. Just decide on a whim to make it happen.
Now it’s all about establishing a presence in USA?? How about a presence in Adelaide and Perth first?
He’s not publicly addressed this ball and chain that is RL poor governance framework.
He clearly sees NSWRL as the pain in the ass that it is - hence why they tried to stack the board with his mates and went to court. Yet his Machiavellian efforts to undermine the current governance framework has backfired massively.
If he was gonna improve the governance and undermine NSWRL and QRL - the perfect time to rationalise the comp was during COVID when he could have used poor finances to pressure and leverage smartly for changes.
Now he’s hid the finances the clubs, the state leagues and players have all caught onto what he’s about. Yet again NRL misses its golden opportunity to reform and set themselves up to seriously take on AFL.
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