Outside help for ARL on new role call
Roy Masters and Brad Walter
December 4, 2010
A PROFESSIONAL recruitment firm will become involved in the selection of candidates for rugby league's inaugural independent commission, NRL clubs were told at this week's conference in Byron Bay.
The appointment of external recruiters comes before the official establishment of the new body, to be known as the Australian Rugby League Commission, at Tuesday's ARL annual general meeting.
However, confusion already surrounds the company's role, with the NRL believing it will headhunt prospective commissioners, while the QRL is convinced its only duty will be to assess the independence of candidates nominated by News Ltd, the NSWRL, the QRL and the 16 NRL clubs. Both the ARL and News Ltd, which will surrender power to the new eight-person commission, have power of veto over any nominee.
The clubs will also be involved in the process as they have the ability to remove commissioners - but do not appoint them. Only two of the possible candidates touted in the media have told the Herald they have been approached by the ARL or News Ltd.
Many have been ridiculed as serious possibilities by those in a decision-making position.
Anyone who has been involved with a club, league or News Ltd for the previous three years is ineligible, preventing outgoing ARL chairman Colin Love and Harvey Norman boss Katie Page, a News Ltd-appointed director to the NRL board.
A ''media test'' will be applied to each candidate, ruling out anyone who holds a position with a media company - such as broadcaster Alan Jones, who holds a significant stake in the Macquarie Radio Network.
Former Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon is also ineligible as he is on the PBL board. Resignation from the post would restore eligibility.
News Ltd's chief operations officer, Peter Macourt, will be heavily involved in the final selection of commissioners, with the ARL's new chairman John Chalk, representing the organisation that has ruled the game for more than a century.
The NRL clubs are represented by Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle, who has driven the push to independence for the game since negotiations began in May 2008.
The developments effectively mean two things: firstly, the commission won't have its first meeting until well into next year, and secondly, although the body will be called the Australian Rugby League Commission, the ARL is dead.
Delegates at next Tuesday's AGM are expected to endorse changes to the constitution to wind up of ARL and form the new body.
The new constitution is still being finalised but the Herald has been told the only issues remaining revolve around wording following a meeting late last week between ARL and News Ltd representatives, including lawyers from both organisations.
The parties addressed concerns raised by QRL officials at last week's ARL board meeting by enshrining in the new constitution of the ARLC:
A guarantee of continued funding from the independent commission for the NSWRL,QRL and CRL, and;
The retention of intellectual property rights by the NSWRL and QRL, including State of Origin logos.
It was also stipulated that:
The NSWRL and QRL must defer to the ARLC on potential sponsorship and merchandise matters;
Both bodies give the necessary rights for scheduling to the new body, and;
Detailed submissions for funding must be provided.
Timeline: Countdown to a new dawn
MAY 2008 First meeting of NRL restructure committee comprising Michael Searle (Titans) and fellow club CEOs Bruno Cullen (Broncos), Denis Fitzgerald (Eels), Shane Richardson (Rabbitohs), Brian Waldron (Storm), Steve Burraston (Knights) and Tony Zappia (Sharks).
JUNE 2008 Searle and Fitzgerald float idea of News Ltd leaving game with the media group's chief operating officer, Peter Macourt.
JUNE 2009 Representatives of ARL, News and clubs meet for first time as a group.
DECEMBER 12, 2009 Herald reports that a ''council of war'' meeting of frustrated clubs would consider a ''reverse Super League'' if News and the ARL do not agree to give control of the game to an independent commission.
JANUARY 18, 2010 Historic meeting of NRL club chairmen, CEOs, coaches and captains votes unanimously for the independent commission to be in place by start of the season on March 12. Meeting calls for new body to be ''truly independent''.
FEBRUARY 6, 2010 ARL officials and Macourt agree to give NSWRL and QRL a vote each. This will enable them to block constitutional changes proposed by the clubs - thus safeguarding representative football and junior development.
MARCH 11, 2010 NSWRL directors use their numbers at ARL board meeting to force a 6-4 vote in favour of independent commission taking over running the game, and set a new deadline of November 1.
APRIL 22, 2010 Negotiations are put on hold as Macourt and News officials deal with fallout from Melbourne Storm's massive salary cap breaches dating from 2006.
JUNE 10, 2010 QRL writes to ''supporters and friends'' advising it has obtained legal advice about the independent commission and is prepared to take the ''strongest possible action'' to stop it unless a proposal for a power-sharing deal between the clubs and the ARL is accepted.
JUNE 22, 2010 Frustrated NRL clubs threaten to block up to $10 million in funding to the QRL unless the state body drops its threat of legal action, and demand the independent commission be in place by October 5 - two days after the grand final.
JULY 30, 2010 NRL club CEOs are told that QRL officials have fallen into line with the other parties at a meeting with News legal affairs manager Ian Philip, and agree to reduce funding for the Storm from $30m to $14.5m, plus support for marketing and development of the game in Melbourne for the next five years.
AUGUST 2, 2010 QRL boss Ross Livermore issues a statement denying any deal has been reached and says negotiations are continuing.
AUGUST 4, 2010 Phil Gould gives a stirring speech to an historic meeting of NRL club chairmen at Canterbury Leagues Club, during which a subcommittee of Nicholas Pappas (Souths), David Trodden (Tigers), Scott Penn (Manly) and Darryl Somerville (Broncos) is appointed to maintain pressure to ensure the independent commission comes to fruition.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 An ARL board meeting votes for a 26-member model commission, comprising the 16 clubs, NSWRL, QRL and eight commissioners.
OCTOBER 22, 2010 ARL directors consider a draft constitution for the independent commission that precludes anyone who has held a position with any club, league or with News for the previous three years from being a commissioner.
NOVEMBER 17, 2010 The Herald reveals that Love will not be seeking re-election as NSWRL chairman and is backing John Chalk to replace him after the annual general meeting.
NOVEMBER 22, 2010 An ARL board meeting fails to agree on all points of the new constitution and seeks clarification from News.
DECEMBER 4, 2010 Candidates supported by the NRL clubs contest elections for positions on NSWRL board and as vice-presidents.
DECEMBER 7, 2010 ARL annual general meeting due to endorse new constitution that will formalise the implementation of the independent commission.
