RL independence day arrives - NRL Independent Commission announced for November 1

[m0nty]

Cup clubs call for QRL duo to quit

The truth comes out. Not only are the QRL as a minority part of the ARL holding up the works, it's actually a minority part of the QRL that is driving it all, in the form of the Queensland Cup blazer wearers who elected Ribot.

Far from being a club vs ARL issue, this is actually an NRL club versus Queensland Cup club issue. This is not about supporting grassroots footy at the lowest level, getting rugby league back into schools and supporting families to grow the game. It's about some jumped up cockies from the back blocks with delusions of grandeur. These Queenslanders are soft in the head if they dare to suggest their comp is second in the world, given the quality of ESL with so many ex-NRL stars.

The sooner that whole level of management is excised from the game, the better.

 

[Perth Red]

hmmm isn't looking likely for Nov 1st is it?

I am confused why Melbourne would need more money when they will in effect be playing less in player salaries next year. Its not up to the NRL to cover sponsors they can't find surely? Sadly with teh sacking of teh directors who looked most likely to want to take over the club it doesn't look like anyone will be willing to take over the Storm from News.

 

[applesauce]

I read that News take 8-10million out for the game every year. Michael Searle was saying that money would go back into the salary cap but what if we just used that money to cancel out the Storms red books per year.

That way as they start getting back in the black that money can then be filtered back into the salary cap (that is unless the IC conveniently forget that was the plan for the money in the first place).

Ipso facto bye bye News!

 

[Perth Red]

lol at Boyce's suggestion Q'land cup is as big as ESL, last week; HFCvHKR 20K, Wigan v Warrington 22K, Leeds v Hudds 15K. Remind me again how many people a Q'land cup game gets?

 

[Teddyboy]

Why can this sport not be run smoothly NFL.

 

[Sunshine Coast Tiger]

I am all for an IC in rugby league. not sure we have got the model right. The NRL clubs with 16 votes in the forming of the IC, most of the clubs are struggling to run themselves, no way should they have that much say.

The IC will need to make the tough decisions like punting or relocating current NRL clubs for the good of the game. Look I hated when the Tigers merged but as a long time fan of rugby league there are too many sides currently in Sydney.

I think we desperately need a second Brisbane team, a Perth side and Central Coast side. The best and less painful way to do this (instead of punting current NRL sides) is to make teams re-locate.

Our game is not all about the NRL, without good junior, school and bush set ups with have no future players.

I say the current NRL clubs hould have the same say (not more) as the NSWRL and QLDRL in picking the IC board.

 

[Loudstrat]

Are you kidding? Have you had a lobotomy lately and gone totally blind with all the wanking you do about Rugby League?

The AFL has gone gang busters since they got an IC including making massive in roads into junior development in non traditional states all over Australia. They are the envy of all sports of in this country.

I know which of the two bodies I would prefer running ALL facets of our sport.

That you'd prefer it means it's probably a dud - and the inroads into juniors has come at a MASSIVE price and delivered little but fluff and spin.

I am, frick I would love RL to be where Australian Rules is right now.

What???? You want League to be only in one country and spending squillions on setting up a side in a place that hates it -with Mario Fenech as the coach and head spokesperson?

No thanks. I'd prefer our vastly superior internationals status, our Origin program and our TV ratings thanks.

 

[Goddo]

Loudy, they are refering to the far better administration of their game compared to our massive conflicts of interest that cripple growth of RL. You are being pedantic.

QRL clubs are in rebelion and want John Ribbot to save them, News are dodgy as ever with the Storm, the ARL is toothless and full of yes men in it for a cheque, the NRL CEO is a lawyer pupet... I would prefer we were in the AFL's position too, with a single governing body elected by the clubs, independance from broadcasters to ensure fair pay for rights, militant expansion and media saturation and a strong development system...

Yes, we are expanding and have origin and internationals, but that is not due to good management or wealth, more just luck that the global sporting landscape looks the way it does and some individuals are pushing their causes (Bears and Reds).

The NRL is a sh!t fight right now, and we need the IC asap.

 

[Rockin Ronny]

I am all for an IC in rugby league. not sure we have got the model right. The NRL clubs with 16 votes in the forming of the IC, most of the clubs are struggling to run themselves, no way should they have that much say.

The IC will need to make the tough decisions like punting or relocating current NRL clubs for the good of the game. Look I hated when the Tigers merged but as a long time fan of rugby league there are too many sides currently in Sydney.

I think we desperately need a second Brisbane team, a Perth side and Central Coast side. The best and less painful way to do this (instead of punting current NRL sides) is to make teams re-locate.

Our game is not all about the NRL, without good junior, school and bush set ups with have no future players.

I say the current NRL clubs hould have the same say (not more) as the NSWRL and QLDRL in picking the IC board.

Absolute cr@p.

Sydney teams have been the backbone of rugby league traditionally - which is in relaity a game played with any exposure in 2 states - NSW and QLD. To weaken your base, in any business is stupid.

Rugby league's biggest weakness is incompetent or corrupt executives who don't have the ability to raise the money necessary to run their clubs PLUS a media organisation who rapes the game of many millions each year and has one of their lackeys to run the game.

An independent commission should be independent of the NRL clubs. the CC Bears have struggled for over 10 years because it would be a very strong club - and other weak NRL clubs don't like competition. Pathetic. Putting these idiots in charge of the game is suicide.

You need business executives who love the game, are familiar with media dealings and have processes in place to ensure independent adjudication.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...se-on-independence-searle-20100726-10snj.html

No compromise on independence: Searle
BRAD WALTER
July 27, 2010

TITANS chief executive Michael Searle, the driving force behind the push for an independent commission to run the game, insists there will be no compromise as Queensland officials admit a push to promote Super League architect John Ribot to the NRL partnership committee is doomed to fail.

With News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt having been focused on the Storm salary-cap scandal, negotiations for a commission to be in place by November 1 have stalled, but Searle will use Friday's NRL club chief executives meeting to revive momentum.

After returning from an overseas trip last Friday to news of a revolt in Queensland by the state's second-tier clubs who want Ribot elevated to greater power in the game, Searle made it clear last night that the model agreed to for the independent commission was not negotiable.

''I will give an update at this Friday's CEOs meeting on recent developments in Queensland,'' Searle said. ''I don't think anyone saw that coming but it should not affect the timetable for the commission.

''We need to see it in place by the agreed date of November 1 and there will be no negotiation on the independence of the commission.''

Under the proposal negotiated by Searle and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis with Macourt and ARL chairman Colin Love, the 16 NRL clubs would each have one vote to decide the eight independent commissioners, as would the NSWRL and QRL - a total of 18 votes.

But Ribot has been lobbying the QRL to oppose such a model and wants the ARL - through the NSWRL and QRL - to have the same representation as the clubs combined.

Such a move would be a virtual retention of the status quo for the ARL, with News Ltd's 50 per cent stake in the NRL effectively transferring to the clubs.

However, QRL general manager Ross Livermore admitted in a letter to Wynnum Manly chairman Rick Green, the spokesman for the Queensland Cup clubs, that even if Ribot was heading up the negotiations himself, NSW directors had the balance of power at ARL board level. Livermore also told Green that Ribot would not be accepted on to the NRL partnership committee as the ARL would block his appointment. In the four-page letter, issued in response to calls by the Queensland Cup clubs for him and QRL chairman John McDonald to resign, Livermore makes it clear that he believes former Storm coach Mark Murray, who is close to Ribot, was behind the revolt.

''Unfortunately Mark cannot accept that six [NSW] votes will always beat four [Queensland] votes,'' Livermore said. ''He continually expresses his opinion that if the right QRL people were in place on the partnership and the ARL, different decisions would result. How the clubs believe this could occur has not been explained. In reality it is fantasy. Even if John Ribot was on the ARL board, the voting outcome would not be any different.

''The push for John to be a member of the ARL-News partnership [committee] would be just that, as the ARL members would not vote him on to that committee.''

Green told ABC Radio on Sunday that the Queensland Cup clubs, who have threatened to boycott the competition next season if their demands aren't met, were opposed to the NRL clubs having so much power.

''There is a very strongly held view that the game should not be owned by the NRL clubs because there is a concern that the money in the game would be quickly directed to the NRL franchises and as a result the grassroots [would] suffer,'' Green said.

 

[RABK]

INDEPENDENCE Day for rugby league has almost arrived after NRL chief executives today confirmed November 1 as a likely starting date.

Reported on front page http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/




THE long-wait for a rugby league independent commission is all but over after NRL chief executives today confirmed November 1 as a likely start date.

After a tedious and dramn-out political campaign between the NRL, ARL and QRL, Independence Day finally appears an iron-clad guarantee.
A statement released by the NRL at 3.34pm reads:
"National Rugby League Chief Executives have expressed renewed confidence that the NRL Commission will be established by November 1.
"Chairman of the club negotiating committee, Mr Michael Searle, today gave a detailed presentation of recent developments and indicated that significant progress was being made between all parties.
"All clubs reiterated the importance of maintaining the momentum and establishing a model based on the appointment of eight fully independent commissioners.


“We’ve kept things deliberately away from the spotlight but it’s fair to say there is a real feeling that we are now breaking through in a number of areas and that all parties, including the ARL, News Limited and the QRL, see November 1 as a very realistic option,” Mr Searle said.
“It’s important to remember that every delay is actually costing the game money because there are significant savings in the commission model.”
"Clubs today made it clear that there had not been and would not be any threat made to withhold players from the upcoming Four Nations Tournament to pressure the Commission process.
“It is not something that has ever been discussed,” Dragons Chief Executive, Mr Peter Doust, said today.
“How would I tell a player that I am going to rob him of the chance to play for Australia because we want to establish a Commission,” Cowboys Executive Director, Mr Peter Parr, said today.
"All clubs said that they would work together to support the negotiating team in the weeks ahead.
“It is exciting to hear that things are getting closer – it will be a great opportunity given some of the decisions that lie ahead in the next twelve to eighteen months including the upcoming television negotiations and the construction of a central Rugby League administration complex,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
"The move towards a Commission comes as clubs have recorded the highest ever membership figures with a net rise of 30,000 members and with 51,000 people taking up membership for the first time."



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d-for-november-1/story-e6frexni-1225899127184

 

[Dr Crane]

a change from gross incompetence to sheer self service.

i'll be excited when i'm proved wrong.

 

[Old Darlin]

provided "self" is from the game's point of view i have no problem with it - if every decision that is made for rl from this point forward is in the best interests of rl, that is all we can hope for - will it happen - you are probably correct re- the likelihood - not high given the records of administrators in rl

 

[Dr Crane]

provided "self" is from the game's point of view i have no problem with it - if every decision that is made for rl from this point forward is in the best interests of rl, that is all we can hope for - will it happen - you are probably correct re- the likelihood - not high given the records of administrators in rl

i definitely hope for the self being for the game, but i suspect that it'll just be the nrl clubs looking out for themselves.

i'm skeptical but possibly might end up hopeful.

 

[Swamp]

i definitely hope for the self being for the game, but i suspect that it'll just be the nrl clubs looking out for themselves.

i'm skeptical but possibly might end up hopeful.

If that is the case the minimum we can expect with IC is that all current clubs should be reasonably healthy. And if that is the worst that can happen surely that is a good thing?

Swamp

 

[Brutus]

So they must have agreed to News LTD getting first and last rights on TV negotiations for the next 199 years.

Great stuff.

 

[Parra]

News Ltd are busting for this to happen.

That is a warning sign to all sane people.

They should be done over for abuse of the word 'independent'.

 

[Old Darlin]

i would say you as a known union-ite agreeing with anything makes it doubtful immediately

 

[Parra]

i would say you as a known union-ite agreeing with anything makes it doubtful immediately

Coming from the resident News Ltd stooge that is a compliment.

Take your weak-troll efforts back to the fight club where you can be ignored.

 

[Perth Red]

Don;t see anything in that what we don;t already know. Still lots of maybes, if they are all in agreement why not announce it will def be happening?