Enter the next NRL magnate
Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-large
ONCE upon a time, rugby league survived on chook raffles, meat trays and first-try doubles. Today, having a tycoon in your corner is more important than having a champion playmaker. Manly were once 72 hours away from folding and wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Max Delmege and the Penn family.
The Roosters would be broke and long gone without their chairman Nick Politis, the game's first-ever sponsor who put his caryard City Ford on the front of Eastern Suburbs' jerseys in 1976.
Melbourne Storm would have folded long before last year's salary cap scandal if it wasn't for the size of Rupert Murdoch's wallet.
The same can be said for the South Sydney Rabbitohs if it hadn't have been for Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe and their emotional takeover in 2006.
http://resources.news.com.au/files/2011/03/30/1226031/033898-the-godfathers.pdf
And, tonight, members of the Newcastle Knights will determine if mining magnate Nathan Tinkler becomes the next private owner - or if they go it alone with the backing of local multi-millionaire Andrew Poole, who has set up a trust to donate up to $10 million over four years.
Poole's offer is with no strings attached and allows members to retain 100 per cent ownership of an already profitable club that is set to thrive from increased funding in a new NRL television deal and extra ticket sales from the new grandstand, starting this weekend against the Dragons.
The Tinkler offer is worth twice as much cash.
The difference is, he takes total ownership away from supporters.
At the Rabbitohs, members still own 25 per cent of the club and Crowe and Holmes a Court 75 per cent.
"I hope and believe Newcastle people will see through the Tinkler offer for what it really is," Poole told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
"These are the same people who stood up to Super League all those years ago and I hope that resolve is still there."
Under the South Sydney ownership model, Crowe and Holmes a Court have two members on the board each.
Members have two and Souths Juniors one.
"Our system works well as the members and juniors have a real voice on the board," said CEO Shane Richardson.
Apart from providing cash, affluent owners deliver in other areas. They have the influence to get to politicians.
They call on mates at the big end of town to provide sponsorship and other favours like significant third-party deals.
No one is more powerful in the game than Roosters supremo Politis. He has a personal wealth of nearly $150 million from car companies here and in the US.
His best mates are James Packer and David Gyngell, which gives him a direct line to to Channel 9, the game's official broadcaster.
He's also close to financial wizard Mark Bouris, property guru John McGrath and king of the Cross, John Ibrahim.
Politis often rings NRL headquarters to make his opinions clear on big issues.
He's close to all the player managers and even offers them the keys and free accommodation at his luxury Surfers Paradise unit.
They all have an incredible passion for the game.
The Bulldogs' sponsor, Jaycar boss Gary Johnston, even spent $50,000 of his own money last year to publish full page newspaper ads calling to reinstate Melbourne Storm.
During the Queensland floods, he gave $100,000 in products (torches, batteries, radios, etc) that the players distributed to families. He also provided access to his private jet to ensure the players could travel to the most remote and trouble-affected areas.
"Gary opens doors, he wields influence in corporate Australia and above all else he is a good and decent man," said Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg.
Not all clubs have the cashed-up players onside.
The Titans and the Raiders have no benefactors outside their major sponsors. They'd love to be in the Knights' position at tonight's meeting.
Two multi-millionaires trying to shove each other out of the way to get involved - and 3000 passionate members to decide who becomes the game's next godfather.
lets hope tonight brings the news we are all expecting!
