http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/le...r-commissions-final-eight-20110601-1fgpl.html
NEWS Ltd representative Greg Baxter said last night that letters to eight selected people formally inviting them to accept places on the independent commission to run the game would be sent out today.
But Baxter's comment was in direct contrast to a statement from the Australian Rugby League that denied the selection process had been completed.
There have been conflicting reports on exactly how many of the eight commissioners News and the ARL have agreed upon, and when asked last night what that figure was as far as News was concerned, Baxter, the company's corporate affairs director, replied: ''All eight commissioners have been agreed upon, and some fairly transparent attempts to derail the process will be unsuccessful because the correct process for recruitment has been followed and we will end up with an incredibly strong independent commission comprising industry and community leaders.
''Any renegade candidate that is put up at this stage is highly unlikely to receive the unanimous support of the sub-committee [formed to choose the commissioners] and will not be considered. All of the issues that remained have been resolved.
''We are satisfied we have found the eight people and that there is a consensus about that. If we were to wake up tomorrow and find that one of the other parties disagrees with that, it would in effect mean they have gone back on their word.
''There is a formal process to be completed but we are very confident that the people who have been identified will agree to be a part of it.''
Informed of the comments from News and asked if he wished to reply to them, ARL chairman John Chalk said last night: ''As far as I'm concerned, as chairman of the ARL, the eight commissioners have not been finalised.''
There has been an interview process involving the sub-committee and the individual nominees aimed at establishing the genuine interest of those nominated, but it is only natural the individuals want to know the make-up of the rest of the board before they commit.
The sub-committee has also been feeding the nominees with as much information as possible about the responsibilities of a commissioner.
The Herald understands former Billabong chairman and Sydney Olympics boss Gary Pemberton met the sub-committee yesterday. Along with Pemberton, other likely commissioners whose names have become public include former league star Wayne Pearce, former Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg, IT guru John Grant and businesswoman Catherine Harris.