Greats grow weary of commission delays
GLENN JACKSON
February 22, 2010
THE push towards an independent commission has done some funny things to rugby league's finest, but in this case it has brought about almost the unthinkable: forcing one of NSW's best to side with Queensland.
Steve Mortimer, the first NSW player to captain the Blues to a State of Origin series victory, said he could understand the Queensland Rugby League's reluctance to allow the commission to be established, due to what he felt was an ''inept'' NSWRL during the past decade.
''I guess in recent years, the QRL have maybe been showing their frustration,'' the former Canterbury halfback said. ''I believe they are a better-run entity than the NSWRL.
''Therefore they are frustrated because the administration over the last 10 years has been very much below par. They're going to have to fall on their sword because of the inept management by the NSWRL.
''I can understand their frustration, but the QRL can take heart that this body will be independent.
''They won't have to be wrestling with the NSWRL any more.''
While the push towards a commission continues, it does so at a slower rate than many had hoped, with the QRL seen as the biggest obstacle. Mortimer, one of NSW's greatest players, is one of the few to have publicly expressed support for the body, which has attracted heavy criticism for standing in the way of the game achieving independence.
The murmurings of discontent are still strong. While Mortimer offered support, two of the game's most revered administrators, Ken Arthurson and John Quayle, have criticised the QRL for standing in the way of the commission.
Quayle said the game needed an independent commission to take full advantage of the next television rights deal, and said the QRL's stance reminded him of their backing of Perth entrepreneur Alistair Norwood to take the Brisbane franchise when the Broncos entered the competition.
''Nothing's changed,'' Quayle said. ''They didn't support the Broncos, they didn't approve of the Gold Coast and they didn't approve of North Queensland. I'm not surprised at all. Why is Queensland opposed to this?''
Of the commission itself, Quayle said: ''We're well behind on that one. It must happen.''
Ken Arthurson, who formed the formidable administrative combination with Quayle, encouraged News Limited, the Australian Rugby League and the heavyweights behind the commission to sit down in a room and lock the door until an agreement is reached.
''Otherwise it'll just go on and on and on and on … it's ridiculous,'' Arthurson said. ''We're facing serious and formidable opposition from the other codes. If we remain a fragmented organisation, we're going to find it bloody hard to withstand those threats.''
Like Quayle, Arthurson encouraged the parties to look beyond state lines and petty squabbling.
''People have got to get beyond that,'' Arthurson said. ''The game is the most important thing. It drives me crazy, all this procrastination. I think it's something they've got to go on with and go on with fairly quickly.
''I understand there's one or two points of issue, but I don't think they should present much of a stumbling block. The way the game is at the moment, we're a fragmented body.
''We really need to be unified, particularly if we're going to withstand the other codes.''
