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

[mattystans000]

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.

I'm glad i'm not alone in this line of thinking.

It's an obvious understatement to say this will be the most important decision for rugby league and its future for the next decade and beyond. To me it seems this entire process is being rushed through at a frantic pace and some very important issues are being overlooked.

If 'the game' gives the 16 NRL clubs total control of 'the game' at all levels, it begs the question what interest do they have in 'the game' outside of their bottom line, and the performance of their club. Even if they do nothing more than appoint "independent commissioners" to the board, I don't think its that hard a stretch to question what's to stop, say shane richardson, from saying he doesn't want sam burgess to play for england during the year, and getting his wish? What really needs to be known is under an independent commission, how will 'the game', outside of the premiership and its clubs, will be run, managed and looked after with its best interests at heart. Will the current organisations that look after these areas, the CRL, NSWRL, QRL, WARL, ARL, etc, have a say in how 'the game' should be managing the development and growth of those areas under an independent commission?

To play devil's advocate, I ask what is the first thing people think of when I say "what is the number one league in the world from any football code?" I'd wager that almost everyone would say the English Premier League. A quick look at their website reveals the method to their success, and the success of their clubs - all 20 Premier League clubs have an equal share in the league, and the FA have special shareholder rights that give them power to veto and overrule decisions of the league, but for the most part the clubs are left to run the league with their own devices. Outside of this, the FA runs the game at all levels, from grassroots to the lower leagues.

I see no reason why this model could not be applied to rugby league in Australia and still deliver the success in all key areas that the NRL clubs and its fans all want (eg. TV rights, salary cap, expansion, etc), without potentially impacting or neglecting all other areas and levels of the game. Would anyone here be opposed to seperating the Premiership from the governance of the main body, and giving the NRL clubs an equal share in the league with the main body holding special shareholder rights in a carbon copy of the EPL? And when I refer to the main body, I am of the opinion that a similar model should be applied to the ARL, with the various state and other governing bodies being shareholders to a single body which would finally give the game national direction in all areas and at all levels of the game, outside of the Premiership.

In conclusion, I ask the fine LU Forumers intersted in the games progress and success over the next decade, Would anyone thinks that this model that i have suggested, in any way, produce an end result different to that which an independent commision model would offer, and would this be worse than what an independent commision model can deliver? Or does an independent commission model guarantee the safeguarding of the games best interests in all areas and all levels across the nation, outside of the premiership, making the need for an FA/EPL split model redundant?

 

[Perth Red]

I think the first litmus test of the IC independence will be expansion in 2013. If we get a bigger TV deal and there is no expansion we can safely say the clubs are making the decisions not the IC for the good of the game. The clubs have said twice now that they don't think the NRL should expand and any extra money should be split between existing clubs. Majority of fans, and seemingly current NRL board & CEO, can see expansion is important for the game. We shall see...

 

[mattystans000]

I think the first litmus test of the IC independence will be expansion in 2013. If we get a bigger TV deal and there is no expansion we can safely say the clubs are making the decisions not the IC for the good of the game. The clubs have said twice now that they don't think the NRL should expand and any extra money should be split between existing clubs. Majority of fans, and seemingly current NRL board & CEO, can see expansion is important for the game. We shall see...

Good point Perth Red, a statement that holds a lot of truth to it. I think its a great shame for the game though that we have to wait and see if this will work for the best interests of the game or the clubs, as I said above I believe there is a way to act in the best interests of both, without impacting on eachother.

I think the real question that lies behind your comment is, if 'the game' goes the way of acting solely in the best interests of the clubs, how will the game outside of the premiership dig itself out of the hole of self interest it will inevitably draw itself into? What is our plan B, how do we protect the whole game?

Just more questions being asked, and few answers being given. 'Wait and see' or 'proactivity', I know which one i'd like to see, but I know which one will most likely happen with the current administration across the board at all levels of the game...

 

[LESStar58]

Maybe I'm just being sceptical but I'll be ignoring all the "talk" about the independent commission. When it starts and the clock resets to "year one" in rugby league terms then I'll get excited. All we've heard is talk all year. I'll be very surprised if it happens by November 1st... just keep Gallop away from it!

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Didn't the clubs get together at the start of the year and say "independent by March" or something?

 

[LESStar58]

Didn't the clubs get together at the start of the year and say "independent by March" or something?

I know that March was thrown about as a possible start time but it was quickly dismissed.


I'd rather them take longer and get it right than rush in to it and totally screw the pooch!

 

[Fui!!!]

For all this time we were complaining that there was no independent commission.

Now, some of you are saying that this is not gonna work.

No pleasing some people I guess.

 

[seaeagle sam]

It'll work, It'll work exactly how it works now. Different name, same sh*t. IMO just f**k off News LTD. But in saying that will News continue to happily plow money into their clubs if their control of the game is lessened?

 

[mattystans000]

For all this time we were complaining that there was no independent commission.

Now, some of you are saying that this is not gonna work.

No pleasing some people I guess.

Just for the record, i've never been in favour of the independent commission model for a restructured NRL, for all of the reasons i've previously posted. I care about this game beyond just my club and the other 15 clubs in the Premiership alone. I have my concerns that the game outside of the Premiership will be greatly neglected and it may drive RL in Australia to be practically non existant outside of NSW+QLD. It may end SOO as we know it, what reason would the clubs, who appoint the commissioners, have to see their players potentially injured whilst not playing for their club? SOO may generate a lot of money, but if those who talk to the media about it are to be believed, it seems everyone thinks a magic massive pile of money, many times whats being made now, will somehow appear and solve all of the problems the clubs and the Premiership have (note, not RL's problems). So with all this extra money, perhaps the clubs will think SOO unecessary in the future? Didn't AFL once play SOO games... and look where the "Independent" Commission took that. And what of our international game? What do the other sports with a commission (AFL, NFL, MLB) have in common, absolutely no "real" international scene.

We have a right to question the IC, as it will determine the future of our game for at least the next decade. And if its the same people who have stuffed our game up for the past decade trying to figure out how to set it up for the next decade, well, what's really going to change? I hope its more than just the name, but I don't have any faith in RL's current administration to do that given their track record...

 

[bfoord]

I just prey that the new IC doesn't kill off origin footy like the AFL commission did. in the AFL the clubs were worried about the potential for serious injuries in their origin thus penalising the clubs. so it was killed off.

if that happens in league watch the revenue and TV deals substantially drop

i think that in the deal to form the new IC there needs to be some sort of clause that protects origin footy.

the other concern i have is that NRL clubs will take too much of the money for themselves thus leaving very little for the grass roots of the game

 

[Old Darlin]

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.

the "news limited stooge" with his first posts cutting into gallop - :lol: - continue to bray about union won't you - ;-) - how about changing the parra name to something more appropriate like "rah rah lover" or "i love spiro" - so tricky as it is

 

[Paul J]

Here's the latest - still not getting anywhere. QRL still wants power in a 'dependent commission'.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/not-so-fast-qrl-wants-better-deal-20100802-113es.html

QUEENSLAND Rugby League officials have revealed they are yet to agree on a model for an independent commission and want a greater say in the running of the game under the new body.
QRL boss Ross Livermore yesterday issued a statement rejecting suggestions Queensland officials had fallen into line with their NSW counterparts, News Ltd and the 16 clubs over the structure of the commission, which is due to take over the running of the game from November 1. Livermore confirmed QRL directors Terry Mackenroth and Bruce Hatcher had met with News Ltd legal affairs manager Ian Phillip in Sydney last Friday but said no deal was reached and negotiations were continuing. He said the meeting had discussed a compromise between the model agreed to by the other parties, which gives the NSWRL, the QRL, each of the 16 premiership clubs and the eight commissioners one vote each, and the QRL's push for the ARL to retain its 50 per cent stake in the game and the clubs take News Ltd's share.
''It is much more favourable to the states than what was there before,'' Livermore said. ''It is quite good from our perspective. It gives the two leagues a much greater input than what they had previously.''

Livermore insisted the QRL was still committed to the independent commission taking over from the ARL and News Ltd by November 1 but said negotiations would not be finalised before the next meeting of the QRL board on August 13.
''Although progress has been made, this structure needs to be signed off by News Limited, the QRL and the ARL,'' Livermore said.
While the NSWRL has the numbers at ARL board level to outvote their Queensland counterparts 6-4, constitutional changes require 75 per cent support to be approved.
NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr said: ''The model is the model and we're pressing ahead with that. But if out of that meeting between News and the QRL there is agreement to consider some other things then we'll do that.''
The Herald understands that the parties have already agreed that NRL clubs can't elect the eight commissioners but will have the power to remove them. With a total of 26 votes between the NSWRL, QRL, clubs and commissioners, 14 votes will be sufficient to force change.
However, new commissioners are likely to be elected by the other commissioners.
The first commissioners will be appointed by News Ltd and the ARL, with each having the right to veto the other party's nominations.
The NSWRL and QRL are expected to have the power to block constitutional changes under the independent commission.
News regarding another delay is bound to ensure a tense meeting at Canterbury Leagues Club tomorrow when the 16 NRL club chairmen gather to discuss the independent commission and other matters in the game.

 

[Big-Steve]

The Herald understands that the parties have already agreed that NRL clubs can't elect the eight commissioners but will have the power to remove them. With a total of 26 votes between the NSWRL, QRL, clubs and commissioners, 14 votes will be sufficient to force change...
The NSWRL and QRL are expected to have the power to block constitutional changes under the independent commission.

Not sure if the 26 votes bit is the Herald's conjecture or a suggestion from one of the parties or what but it would be a rare occurance if a sporting body voted in a block to remove board members before their tenure was up. It's not something that would be hard coded into a constitution.

Also I would have thought it should be the ARL not the NSWRL and QLDRL that should keep the costiution in check.

Does anyone know how the "other states" operate formally in the current set up? Are there subcommittees that operate under the ARL?

 

[Goddo]

Sounds to me like the "independence" of this structure is heavily compromised... Power for constitutional change will lie with the state RLs? That is a load of crap.
The commissioners electing each other and the clubs can only vote for them or boot them.

What if the Commissioners put forward hacks that the clubs won't vote for or will boot? And in this case, the initial commissioners will be ARL/News lackeys and will simply entrentch this status quo.

It is looking more unapealing with every alteration... fk the QRL off. Toe the line ffs.

State bodies should run the equivelant State Cup, the Origin team and work with a game wide junior development program (but not control it) and thats it. Spending on regions and development and so on should be in consultation with local leagues, state leagues and the NRL club, but controlled by a higher power to mediate, the Commission.

What was a fairly simple proposal of a club elected commission controling the game is mutating into an overly complex system which will simply entrench the current status quo. I hope the clubs tell the QRL to go f**k itself.

EDIT: cue a heap of vitriol from East Coast Tiger

 

[Perth Red]

Didn't AFL once play SOO games... and look where the "Independent" Commission took that. And what of our international game? What do the other sports with a commission (AFL, NFL, MLB) have in common, absolutely no "real" international scene.

...

TBF AFL do spend significant amounts promoting the game overseas and have just this week announced a sizeable sum of $'s to be spent in Europe.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7683851/afl-in-bold-bid-to-crack-european-market/

 

[Perth Red]

TBF AFL do spend significant amounts promoting the game overseas and have just this week announced a sizeable sum of $'s to be spent in Europe.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7683851/afl-in-bold-bid-to-crack-european-market/

I do share your concerns but its not like Int Rl has any real profile or support at the moment anyway.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...newsqrl-dealings-revealed-20100803-115is.html

Club bosses want News-QRL dealings revealed
BRAD WALTER
August 4, 2010

THE POWER LUNCH

A HISTORIC gathering of NRL club chairmen will today demand to know details of secret negotiations between News Ltd and the Queensland Rugby League that have again sparked fears the independent commission will not be in place by November 1.

After last Friday's meeting of NRL CEOs was advised that the QRL would accept the model for the independent commission agreed to by News, the ARL and the clubs, with some ''tweaking'', club bosses were stunned to read in yesterday's Herald that QRL general manager Ross Livermore had denied suggestions a deal was close to being finalised.

Livermore's comments that News legal affairs manager Ian Philip had been open to a compromise model that was ''much more favourable to the states'' and ''gives the two leagues [NSWRL and QRL] much greater input'' have ensured what was initially intended to be a relaxed lunch at Canterbury Leagues Club attended by 14 of the 15 NRL club chairmen will now take on a far more serious tone.

''It looks like it will now be more business than pleasure,'' said Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo, who, with his Sydney Roosters and Bulldogs counterparts Nick Politis and Ray Dibb, instigated the get-together.

Only New Zealand Warriors chairman Mark Flay has confirmed his absence, while Melbourne do not have a chairman after News sacked Rob Moodie.

The chairmen of the nine Sydney clubs enjoyed a lunch together earlier this year but it is the first time all NRL club chairmen have been invited to a meeting.

''There is no agenda but I am sure we will spend a bit of time discussing the independent commission,'' Spagnolo said.

Other club chairmen told the Herald the meeting was likely to reinforce a key point of the motion unanimously passed at the January 18 meeting of club CEOs, coaches, captains and chairmen that the commission be ''truly independent from its inception''.

Livermore insists the QRL is committed to an independent commission taking over the running of the game from News and the ARL by November 1, but it is understood the QRL is using legal advice from leading Sydney SC Bret Walker to push for a greater voice in the new body.

Initially News and the ARL had agreed the 16 NRL clubs, the NSWRL and QRL would each have one vote, along with the eight commissioners - making a total of 26 votes.

But the QRL had wanted the two state bodies to have the same combined representation as the 16 clubs, effectively ensuring that the ARL retained its 50 per cent stake in the game and News's share went to the clubs.

The Herald understands that for legal reasons the existing ARL will become the new company in charge of the game but the QRL says that to effect that change the constitution of the league needs to be altered.

While NSWRL directors control the ARL board by a 6-4 majority, changes to the constitution require a 75 per cent majority and there are only two votes on such matters - one for each state.

NSWRL directors are believed to have been warned that they could be sued for a breach of fiduciary duty if they attempt to force the changes through at board level.

However, the clubs are becoming frustrated by the continuing delay to News Ltd and the ARL's withdrawal, and today's meeting of club chairmen may call for the NRL to block funding to the state bodies if the commission is not implemented quickly.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/still-no-sign-of-a-leader/story-e6frfgh6-1225900831242

Still no sign of a leader

* By Andrew Webster
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* August 04, 2010 12:00AM

ACCORDING to Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo, the lunch meeting with his NRL contemporaries today is nothing more than a meal and few vinos between old friends and new.

"There is no agenda," Spagnolo said. "It's just a talk between the chairmen around the dinner table. There will be no vote on anything."

It contradicts what other chairmen were saying privately yesterday about the meeting of the 15 NRL club bosses - the Storm don't have one - at Canterbury Leagues Club when the stagnant march towards an independent commission will be firmly on the agenda.

They are concerned at the slow progression, double talk and misinformation. Imagine what the poor old fan thinks.

The game was thrown a dummy last Friday when it was declared that the Queensland Rugby League had finally rolled over following discussions with News Limited (publisher of The Daily Telegraph).

Instead, the QRL has in the last few days recanted that belief with chief executive Ross Livermore declaring on its website: "Unfortunately, these reports only support the old adage of don't believe everything you read in the newspapers."

He added: "The negotiations about the company structure have not been finalised, although progress has been made, and this structure needs to be signed off by News Limited, the QRL and the ARL."

The QRL initially wanted a structure where the ARL had a 50 per cent stake.

The game's other stakeholders want the NSWRL, QRL, each of the NRL clubs and the new eight commissioners to have one vote each.

At Friday's meeting between QRL directors Terry Mackenroth and Bruce Hatcher and News Limited lawyer Ian Phillip, a "compromised" model was discussed. A spokesman from News Limited could not elaborate on the compromise model discussed last Friday.

Either way, these fresh comments from Livermore are sure to be a talking point as the chairmen break bread this afternoon.

A compromise model must surely bring into question how independent the new commission can be.

Furthermore, when did the QRL become the kingmakers in the most momentous decision in the game's history?

Who is running the game?

As the days tick along towards this fabled Independence Day of November 1, some basic questions remain unanswered.

Will David Gallop be the new commission's chief executive for the first four years as News wants?

Will Colin Love be the new chairman, even though he is the ARL chairman and many believe his appointment defies the point of the whole thing in the first place?

More importantly, will this commission be firmly in place and humming along by the time the first negotiations take place for a television broadcast that will supposedly pour $1 billion in to the game?

Today, Titans chief executive Michael Searle was expected to give another presentation on what it all means, although there was some talk he might be unavailable.

Phil Gould is slated to also speak.

Let's hope the Channel 9 commentator fires them up like one of his NSW Origin sides of the past.

Because right now, the game needs leadership and some straight talking.

Maybe it will come from the chairmen, because it is not coming from anywhere else.

 

[Goddo]

^ there we go, the clubs voicing the concerns I had. Hopefully Gould fires the CEO's up. It is getting rediculous.The QRL dinosaurs are putting up one hell of a fight to save themselves.

 

[taipan]

i can smell a Frenchman in the background.Nick off Ribot de Bresac and let the game move on.:shock: