http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...ls-on-qrl-to-join-movement-20100624-z3a2.html
Richardson calls on QRL to join movement
Independent commission protagonist Shane Richardson says the Queensland Rugby League has no leg to stand on in its bid for a greater slice of power under a new governing body. Ahead of what looms as a crucial ARL board meeting in Brisbane on Friday - where NSW aligned factions will attempt to persuade their Queensland counterparts to push forward with the proposed model for the commission - Richardson claimed the QRL had no right to a greater representation under the new regime.
The structure put forward by NRL clubs and News Limited - which has received in-principle support from the ARL - is for NSW and Queensland to be given the same say as each NRL club.
Queensland is opposed to the dramatic cut to its powers, but South Sydney chief executive Richardson dismissed concerns that the new commission would only serve the interests of the 16 NRL clubs.
"It's rubbish to say the 16 clubs that provide all the money for all the players that play Origin and play for Australia don't even care about the game," Richardson said.
"They (the QRL) don't fund any of our money whatsoever - the match payment (for Origin) comes out of the total funds from the NRL, not the QRL ... at the end of the game we're funding the game to the loss of $26 million."
The independent commission is seen as the perfect exit strategy for News Limited and the ARL, who currently share control of the game.
Club chief executives on Tuesday said it was vital that a new structure was in place by the end of the season, adding haste to the squabble at ARL board level.
The ARL board was due to meet last week but the gathering was postponed as chairman Geoff Carr sought advice over the organisation's legal standing in the face of opposition from Queensland board members.
While talk of withholding funding to the QRL will likely never amount to any more than a threat, there is genuine concern over the stalled move towards the commission.
Richardson said leaving the ARL with more power than any other entity would take away from the very concept of an independent commission.
"An independent commission is exactly that - independent," Richardson said.
"What the QRL want to do is dominate the independent commission so they can have the say while we pay all the money for all the funds for all the players - how can that be fair?
"It's an independent commission - people get to make decisions for the betterment of the game - not the clubs, not the QRL, but the game."
