Nick Moraitis aiming for role in NRL Commission
* Andrew Webster
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* November 06, 2010 12:01AM
THERE'S every possibility that Nick Moraitis will be standing in the mounting yard at Flemington in precisely a year holding the Melbourne Cup after Maluckyday's inspiring second in the race last Tuesday.
By then, he would also like very much like to have a seat on the NRL's brand spanking new independent commission that will be finally come into being early next month.
His name has been whispered in recent months and the hugely successful Sydney businessman confirmed to this column that he is definitely keen.
"Yes, I would like to be on it," said the 75-year-old. "I know a lot about league. I've played it, coached it and refereed it. I can spot good footballers from a mile off.
"I think I have a fantastic eye for football. My name's been thrown in there. We'll wait to see what happens. But I think I have a lot to offer, because I think there are a few things where the game needs to improve."
Moraitis is best known for owning the all-conquering Might And Power, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1997. Yet he is no stranger to the alleged greatest game of all.
A South Sydney junior, he played lower grades for Eastern Suburbs in the 1950s and then become a leading A-grade referee on his way to becoming the country's biggest wholesaler of fruit and veg.
"League is my favourite sport outside of racing," he said. "My sons are fanatical supporters. Today, all I want to see is a good game of football. I love league so much. I watch every game. As long as I see good refereeing."
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr would not be drawn into whether Moraitis was a contender or not. So far, the other high-profile candidates include former Billabong and Qantas chairman Gary Pemberton, former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty, Westpac boss Gail Kelly and BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus.
"There have been plenty of names thrown out there," Carr said. "It's a good sign that so many high-profile people are putting their name forward.
"But until we [the ARL] meets with News Limited there is no use commenting one way of the other. I can tell you, though, that if you find the book that was written about the history of South Sydney Juniors there is a photo of a team from Coogee from 1958 and Nick Moraitis is the team manager."
Meanwhile, sincere apologies to Moraitis' son, Steve, for incorrectly publishing earlier this week that he was 52 years of age.
He does not look a day over the 46 years that he is.
IN other Melbourne Cup carnival news just to hand, Flemington felt like a deflated balloon when So You Think didn't win the big race. One person who couldn't get out of there quick enough was the great Jim Cassidy.
He had changed out of his silks and was dragging his suitcase through the mounting yard to catch a flight seemingly minutes after the race. We now know he was shooting back to Sydney to face stewards after testing positive to cannabis.
As always, the real action was happening in the marquees. On Derby Day, we can tell you His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, was telling anyone who would listen he was a big fan of the His Royal Highness the Sheik of Tweak, otherwise know as Shane Keith Warne.
