Rugby League Independent Commission

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Commission to deliver TV windfall

IT STARTED as a plan to regain control of the game from News Ltd and that desire led to the ARL effectively voting itself out of existence.

While the ARL will survive in name only, with the new independent body likely to be known as the Australian Rugby League Commission, officials ensured during the past eight weeks of negotiations that the NSWRL and QRL have two votes between them to block any proposed constitutional changes.

More than 15 years after launching a series of raids to lure clubs and players away from the ARL to the rebel Super League competition, News Ltd is set to exit the game at the end of this season.

News Ltd will retain the first and last rights of refusal on the pay-television rights over which the Murdoch empire started the Super League war, and it wants to extend that arrangement from 2022 to 2027.

However, the media company's only direct involvement will be as majority shareholder in Brisbane, as News intends to push ahead with plans to find a buyer for Melbourne.

Guaranteeing the Storm's losses for five years as a condition of the sale is one of the key issues to be resolved, as News Ltd wants $30 million to do so but others believe only about $13 million of funding is required if last year's premiers and grand finalists of the past four years were to operate on a more frugal budget.

Should the Storm be able to do so, a guaranteed $27 million will flow into the game over the next five seasons, as News take $8 million from the NRL each year.

But a far greater financial windfall is expected to come via an improved television deal as the game will be able to conduct a genuine auction for the broadcast rights for the first time in decades.

With the Packer family no longer owning Channel Nine and News Ltd giving up its 50 per cent stake in the NRL, no one is beholden to any of the bidding parties.

The fallout from NRL chief executive David Gallop's comments in the Herald supporting the new rugby league program hosted by Matthew Johns on Channel Seven indicates that Channel Nine bosses know it will game on when the free-to-air rights go on the auction block.

And even if there is no reality to the perception that News Ltd has an advantage in negotiations over the pay-TV rights - it has representatives sitting on both the NRL side of the bargaining table and Fox Sports side - some rival bidders do not believe they have a genuine chance, as evidenced by Kerry Stokes's decision to go to court over the dealings with his failed C7 network.

Angst over the superior television deal the AFL managed to negotiate was one of the key reasons representatives of the NRL clubs, led by Gold Coast Titans chief executive Michael Searle and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis, approached News Ltd 18 months ago to inquire what it would take for the media organisation to hand back control of the game.

Tired of being blamed for all of the game's ills and conflict-of-interest accusations, News Ltd representatives indicated they were willing to exit - but were not prepared to allow the ARL to have charge of the code again.

A deal negotiated between News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt, and Searle and Politis, entitled the 16 clubs to one vote each in electing the eight independent commissioners but gave the ARL no voting rights.

After initially insisting on the same voting rights as the clubs, ARL chairman Colin Love and chief executive Geoff Carr quickly realised that News Ltd would never agree to simply hand its 50 per cent stake to the clubs and allow its Super League war enemy to survive with its existing half share in the NRL.

To bring the issue to a head and guarantee the departure of News Ltd that so many in the game wanted, Love and Carr negotiated a deal that helped safeguard representative football and junior development by giving the two state bodies one vote each - sufficient, they believe, to prevent any clubs from exerting undue influence on a commissioner as 75 per cent - or 14 - of the 18 votes is required to gain election.

In addition, just two votes are required to block any constitutional changes - ensuring the clubs cannot band together to change the not-for-profit independent commission to a limited company and siphon money away from the grassroots.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au

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Gallop says benefits of independence to take time

THE NRL has warned there will be no immediate windfall from the creation of an independent commission.

However, its clubs and players will reap the rewards in the next television deal, in 2013.

Supporters of the commission were still celebrating yesterday after the ARL Board voted on Thursday to forge on towards independence without the backing of its Queensland directors.

"Everyone from the grassroots to the elite clubs will benefit from the rationalisation of the bodies and the brands in the game," NRL chief executive David Gallop said yesterday.

"It will give greater clarity to the public about rugby league. Wouldn't it be great if every six year old kid wears the same logo as Darren Lockyer when he captains Australia?

"It's a big step forward, but there's a fair amount of work to do in nutting out the details."

While acknowledging the long road ahead and the importance of the decisions still to be made, the brainchild of the entire process, Gold Coast Titans boss Michael Searle, admitted he was excited at seeing what began as an idea on a plane trip to New York so quickly become such a monumental move for rugby league.

"I fly to New York every year and I don't sleep much on planes," Searle said. "I was sitting back thinking about the game and its structure and the need we had to just streamline things, unify our branding -- just become one.

"So I ended up writing a paper, which I presented to the NRL on the potential threat from AFL to our game and the need for us to become more efficient in the way we did things.

"That was how it started. It has been a long road since, but people wanted this to work. There was genuine goodwill from both the ARL and News Limited, whose only concern from the outset was ensuring the structure we had was right to protect the game for the next hundred years.

"To get their support yesterday says to me the model we have got is the right one."

The decision means the NRL's current owners News Limited (publisher of The Australian) and the ARL will wind up their involvement and hand over control of the game to the 16 clubs, the NSWRL and the QRL.

A single governing body will give the game greater brand awareness, and the decision by News Limited to stand aside will end conflict of interest insinuations when Gallop sits down with both free-to-air and commercial television executives to hammer out a new deal when the current one expires.

"Any streamlining of the number of bodies and brands is likely to create greater efficiency and produce better results," Gallop said. "With or without News Limited involved in the ownership structure of rugby league, we are well placed to get a very good result in terms of our broadcasting rights because all the rights are up for grabs at the same time.

"A transparent auction of our rights is what we're aiming for."

There are predictions the next television deal could bring as much as $200m a season into the game, with plans to sell premiership games, Test matches, State of Origin and finals as separate packages to maximise revenue.

That could result in massive windfalls for clubs and players, with both the $3.3m annual grant and $4.2m salary cap poised to rise dramatically.

Closing the gap between the grant and the cap would bring relief to Sydney clubs that have become dependent on licensed clubs to stay afloat.

That would also be welcome relief to the licensed clubs.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

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League's brave new world explained.

The new rugby league commission is the biggest administration overhaul in 102 years of rugby league. The Bulletin's Luke Turgeon speaks to the body's chief architect Michael Searle to find out everything you need to know

What is the commission and what will it do?

The commission is the name of the new organisation that will be formed to assume control of rugby league in Australia. This name has been applied to the restructuring of the game whereby the current owners of the game, News Limited and the ARL will transfer for $1 the game and its assets to a non-profit entity that will have a board of eight independent commissioners. This new entity will streamline the game's administration and unify the game of rugby league under one structure, under one brand and one banner for the first time in the game's history. The commission will manage the NRL competition, all Australian teams, the State of Origin and the NRL All Stars. This body will also financially support the QRL, NSWRL, CRL and junior rugby league and grassroots development.

It has been reported the commission will make 32 positions on four boards redundant by the end of the season. When will the search start to find the eight commissioners?

The process of appointing commissioners will be formally conducted by the current partners of the game, the ARL and News Limited. They will both be able to veto each other's nominations, so unanimous support for commissioners and their independence needs to be obtained or waived by both parties for a person to be appointed a commissioner. The partners will consult with the Game Restructure Committee to seek feedback from the 16 NRL clubs as to the nomination of commissioners. The commissioners cannot be directors or officers of any club, the QRL or any affiliates, NSWRL, CRL or any of their affiliated entities. The proposed boards that will be absorbed under the Commission will include the NRL Partnership Board, NRL Board, ARL Board and potentially the ARL Development Board.

How often will it meet and what kind of decisions will it make?

The workload of the inaugural commissioners will be significant. It is expected that in the first few years the workload requirements towards reform will largely be dispersed at regularly convened meetings. It is fair to assume that strategic planning and television rights will be important aspects for the game under this new regime. It will be an early focus to implement change within the game as the games revenue is expected to surge under this model and given the strength of the game in today's market.

How often will the commission positions be open for change?

Annually, potentially, but it is more likely that nominations may only come when Commissioners stand down or are asked to stand aside.

How much is the introduction of the commission designed to fend off the aggressive advancement of AFL into rugby league territory? And how will it achieve this?

The commission is about the ongoing evolution of the game's administration. The concept and momentum for a commission was identified as a way to assist rugby league deal with a raft of issues. However, the appetite for change has come about as a result of the large expected increase in television revenues and the need to ensure these profits did not leak out of the game to the existing partners such as the ARL or News Limited. Under this new model 100 per cent of the profit from the NRL will stay in the game for this generation and next generation's future.

The commission has been agreed to in principle, so why will it take months for the ARL and News Limited to finalise the deal?

The search for the independent commissioners will be anmportant part of the process. That search for suitably qualified commissioners plus the collation of legal agreements, transfer of sponsorship agreements, creation of members agreements and unravelling the plethora of trademark, patents and other intellectual property issues from the associated bodies to the Commission will be cumbersome and tedious but vitalto the long term strength and stability of the organization.

Is there a chance it could still not go ahead?

An agreement in principle could be cancelled if the parties could not complete the transfer for some legal reason but it is highly unlikely given the commitment by the ARL and News Limited, not to mention the overwhelming support of the clubs, players and fans.

What will the commission it be called?

It has been rumoured the commission could become known as the ARL Commission as it represents all facets of the game from grassroots through to international football. These commissioners will be responsible for the strength, growth and strategic direction for the whole game and naturally will consult heavily with the QRL, NSWRL, CRL and all forms of grassroots development or game participation.

Given its overarching responsibility for the game in Australia it seems a likely and probable name for the new structure.

When do you expect the first board meeting for the new commission to take place?

That is unknown. But as soon as the commissioners are finalised it is fair to say the enthusiasm will be there to see a swift assembly of the Commissioners to start the process of reform and restructuring.

What impact do you expect the commission to have on the NRL's salary cap?

The commission may see significant cost savings as a result of the restructure, the elimination of duplication of boards and the retention of the profits within the game. It is unreasonable to expect that the cost savings will all be directed to the elite level of the game. The game will be in a better financial position should it need to invest at any levelof the game and that decision will be one the commissioners will need to evaluate and decide in the early stage of their appointments.

So the earning potential of players will increase under the new commission?

That is not certain but potentially it could. That would be a decision by the commissioners as to whether these cost savings would be passed on to the elite level in the short term or retained for a rainy day. Given the pressure from rival codes, it is reasonable to expect that players will see an increase. The television rights in 2013 deal, however, will have a much greater impact, as the revenue from the NRL will increase significantly and potentially could be the biggest ever television deal done in professional sport in this country. If that occurs, the game of rugby league, the players and the fans will be much better off, as will the game of rugby league from juniors right through to elite teams. In the NRL, if the club grant was to increase to say $6 million per club, then the salary cap could increase by up to $1 million and this increase would see the salary cap exceed the $5.2 million mark. If you add the second-tier salary cap and NYC cap, it will see the total of all NRL/NYC player spend increase to close to $6 million. It could mean rugby league players, on average, will be the highest paid footballers in the country and will exceed AFL, A-League and rugby union.

Currently News Limited pays between $35,000 and $50,000 a year to its directors, while the ARL board pays between $50,000 and $100,000 each. How much will each commission member be paid?

There has been no discussion of remuneration, for Commissioners and to be fair it will be secondary to the primary thing that will attract commissioners, and that will be the love of rugby league and what it does for so many people in Australian society. It is reasonable to expect that the right people will see recompense as a minor issue of importance as to why they are undertaking the role.

Why is getting the big end of town involved in rugby league important? What is wrong with the current system?

Bringing experience and experts to the table can only be a good thing provided they understand the philosophy of the game from grassroots to NRL. Our game has inadvertently locked out the big end of town in the past as most officials came to the senior level of the game after many years of volunteer service to the game. These opportunities for the game's volunteers are still vital for so many levels of our game but at the very pointy end, administration requires excellence in the fields that they represent to ensure the longevity and financial strength and popularity of rugby league.

It has been reported that Katie Page is considered a certainty for the commission while Colin Love has been offered the chair and David Gallop will be offered four years as the CEO. Are these the right people for those jobs or would you have someone else in mind?

Katie Page is an incredible success story in corporate Australia and has presided over one of the best retail models in this country and this empire has all resulted from hard work with her and her husband, Gerry Harvey. Her passion for the game of rugby league is unwavering and she gets what the game does for some many Australians. Colin Love at this stage has not been offered a role nor indicated he would take a role but his knowledge of the game would be an important asset for the game's transition from the existing structure to the Commission His legal background and involvement for over 30 years will be an important resource for the new Commissioners. David Gallop is undoubtedly the cornerstone of the NRL and his leadership is what the game needs in what should not be understated as one of the most intense and important times in the game's history. David has done wonderful things in our game to mend the bridges and to ensure transparency and openness with all issues that have occurred within the game and he will now preside over the game's final evolution and unity under one brand for the first time in the games history.

What will happen to the QRL? Nothing will change. The QRL will maintain its complete autonomy over rugby league in Queensland for all junior competitions and the senior rugby league competitions it manages so wellnte. The game of rugby league from a participation perspective is growing at incredible rates on the back of huge base of participation numbers already and this is a result of the great work being done in the game in Queensland. That should not change and will only improve with more funding reaching grassroots junior rugby league and their clubs as television rights revenue kicks into the games coffers.

Will they maintain control of State of Origin, which is their biggest revenue stream?

The revenue will be centralised, moving forward at the commission level. However, the involvement of the QRL and the FOGS will be firmly focused on team management as it should.

What impact will the commission have on grassroots rugby league and who will have the responsibility of developing the code at the level? Development is yet to be considered but submissions will be sought by the Commissioners over time one would suspect.

nteWho will organisations such as the Gold Coast Rugby League, who currently operate under the QRL banner be answerable to from 2011 onwards?

The QRL will still be the body that manages all domestic competitions played within the state's borders. The NSWRL will have the same autonomy for NSW competitions. The Gold Coast Rugby League will have the same reporting pathway as it currently does with the QRL.

You have been quoted saying the commission could have as much as $200 million in the bank in a few years. What will this money be used for?

For the future of rugby league.It should never be controlled by private owners, clubs or state run bodies. It should be held for the future generations. It should ensure the game adequately pays the players their entitlements and use the proceeds to develop community based programs that improve our society as a result of the direct involvement of rugby league.

What does it all mean for the fans and how will they benefit?

The fans will benefit as the game will be more efficiently run, have greater certainty for their club's survival and have a better structure that will retain profits in the game as opposed to leaking them to other parties and will allow the fans to be proud of the game and how it is run, marketed and promoted.

The Commissioners will become their voice. The voice of the fans.

What do you think is the most important thing people should know about the commission?

The Commission campaign was championed for the fans and players of all ages. Without fans and players there is no game, so the time has come to acknowledge and celebrate what both bring. The game isn't just about a scoreboard or a premiership. It is about what the game of rugby league does for men and women of all ages, it unites society and changes our lives forever. Like it has changed my grandfather's life, my father's and mother's life, like it has changed mine and will change my son and daughters. All changed for the better.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au

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Commission on hold as Storm snows News delegate

THE Melbourne Storm salary-cap drama and closing financial year have conspired to bring negotiations for the independent commission to a halt.

The Sun-Herald understands News Ltd's chief financial officer, Peter McCourt, who is working with ARL chairman Colin Love to form the independent commission, has had to focus on the audit of the Storm, owned by News Ltd, and his employer's annual budget.

Both parties are said to be firmly committed to setting up the commission, but McCourt's workload has made it impossible for him and Love to talk much in the past month.

Documenting the commission's structure, which would presumably include the by-laws and constitution, will be the most time-consuming task before the November 1 deadline.

Michael Searle, the Gold Coast Titans chief executive who was the architect of the commission, said he was confident the deadline would be met. ''I'd be disappointed if we can't get it done by November 1 - it's the ideal time,'' he said. ''It's three months before the new season kicks off and a transitional handover would be nice.

''They have a lot of work to do. I'd hate to see it dumped on them on the eve of the season's kick-off and they're told, 'Here's the horse, hang on tight.'

''I'd much rather see the handover happen as soon as possible after grand-final day so they can get their teeth in the budget, into the television deal and to [be able to] look at the game from a holistic perspective.''

Searle said it was understood that McCourt had to deal with his workload. ''Most of us would acknowledge that ideally it'd be great to have [the commission] ramped up, but I think we're prepared to cut a bit of slack,'' he said.

''The big picture is we get this right - it is going to be vital for our game over the next 100 years. As I said from day one, the process around the agreement behind the scenes is far more complicated than the deal itself. Restructuring the organisation is something that will happen quickly.''

Searle said all parties appreciated the demand for the commission. ''I think there'll be some momentum in the next month or two when Peter [McCourt] gets more time, though I'm certain discussions are still ongoing behind the scenes,'' he said.

Searle also defended the commission's developers from criticism that insufficient information was being released to the public. Trying to develop such a body in a public forum would be a disaster, he said. The time for public scrutiny would come.

''[The commission] has to pass the litmus test of public scrutiny and you can't conduct negotiations and/or restructure an organisation like the National Rugby League thinking the scrutiny won't be intense,'' he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/

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QRL: Independent Commission Update

AS part of the QRL's commitment to keep our valued supporters and friends fully apprised of developments regarding the establishment of an Independent Commission for Rugby League, we wish to provide you with a further update on recent events.

The Independent Commission has far reaching implications for all stakeholders in the game of rugby league, from the grassroots to the elite level, and it is important that you understand the facts regarding its implementation.

You may be aware that the Australian Rugby League (ARL) announced on 11 March 2010 that it had agreed in principle with News Ltd. on the model for a single Independent Commission to conduct and control the sport in Australia.

While the QRL supports the creation of a Commission, its members on the ARL board did not agree with this model and voted against it adoption at the meeting, as they did not believe it serves the best interests of all stakeholders of the game, nor does it protect the ARL?s 50 percent ownership position.

Under the proposal for a new Independent Commission, News Ltd. has imposed numerous conditions on its exit from the National Rugby League (NRL), some of which the QRL finds unacceptable. These conditions include:

? A restructure of the code to create a not-for-profit organisation to include the 16 member clubs, eight commissioners, and the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and QRL.

? The NSWRL and QRL to have no role in the appointment of commissioners in the future;

? A $26 million financial package for the Melbourne Storm; and
? An extension on its first and last broadcasting rights, past 2022.

Key among our concerns is the ARL has agreed to a code restructure, which gives one vote each to the NSWRL and the QRL, providing them same membership rights as each of the 16 NRL clubs and the eight commissioners.

This decision effectively means that the ARL is prepared to walk away from its 50 percent stake in the game for a share equal to less than 8 percent (the NSWRL and QRL being 2 of 26 members), while handing the NRL clubs more than 60 percent control (16 of 26 members).

This position is highly advantageous to the NRL clubs who represent the game?s elite and disadvantageous to both the NSWRL and QRL who foster the game?s grassroots development and run representative programs including State of Origin.

The game has many more stakeholders than the elite NRL clubs, a number of which are privately owned, and includes senior, junior and school players, parents and supporters, volunteers and referees.

The QRL takes its role as a custodian of the game in Queensland seriously, and is prepared to take the strongest possible action to ensure the grassroots rugby league community is protected and represented under any new structure.

For the good of the game, the QRL has sought legal advice regarding the current Independent Commission proposal and this advice has raised some serious issues and concerns which the ARL must address before the proposed structure can be progressed.

This advice has prompted the QRL to call for a special meeting of the ARL?s board to discuss its concerns and reconsider the decision taken at the board meeting on March 11. This special meeting will take place on June 17.

At the same time, the QRL has developed a model for the game?s future and has requested the ARL board considers an alternative streamlined structure for the Independent Commission, which equally serves the interests of all of the game?s stakeholders, not just the game?s elite.

The QRL?s proposed simplified structure reduces the current unwieldy 26-member format to just eight members: one representative each nominated by the privately-owned NRL clubs and the not for profit NRL clubs; one representative each from the QRL and NSWRL; and four independent commissioners to be appointed by the four groups.

We will continue to keep you informed about important developments regarding the Independent Commission. Thank you for your continued support of the QRL and our great game. If you have any views or further questions regarding the independent commission, please contact the QRL via email rugbyleague@qrl.com.au or phone (07) 3367 6000.

Yours sincerely,

Ross Livermore - Managing Director

John McDonald - Chairman

Source: http://www.qrl.com.au

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$28m plan to force QRL's hand

CEOs from the 16 NRL clubs are seeking to have all payments and grants to the game's ruling bodies frozen until the creation of an independent commission.

The proposal, which will be ratified at the chief executives' conference in Sydney today, will be presented to the NRL Partnership, with club bosses also set to request access to the expenditure reports of each of the respective bodies.

Under the current system, rather than handing over money on a needs basis, the NRL Partnership gives out annual grants, with the ARL and its various subsidiaries collecting $28 million each year.

There is a widespread belief among the NRL clubs that the money is not being utilised in the best interests of the game and several of the most prominent club bosses are determined to properly account for every dollar that the game generates.

Between them, the QRL and NSWRL boast bank rolls in excess of $12m. This at a time when several clubs, most notably Cronulla, are struggling to make ends meet and the game is losing star players to offers from rival codes.

Queensland and Australia winger Israel Folau recently accepted a four-year offer to join the new Greater Western Sydney AFL franchise, rumoured to be worth almost $6m. It was more than double what his club side Brisbane could table, though it should be noted the majority of his pay cheque will come out of the club's marketing budget rather than from the football club.

With a war chest of around $8m, the QRL could simply have dipped into the interest their money earns in the bank each year to have Folau fill a similar role, but instead chose to do nothing.

The QRL, led by Ross Livermore, has been outspoken in its disapproval of the proposed eight-person independent commission model and in The Australian last week revealed the QRL was considering taking legal action to prevent the commission taking control of rugby league as planned on November 1.

The architect of the IC model, Titans boss Michael Searle, said the need for a truly independent authority to govern the game was becoming increasingly evident.

"I think there is pretty much universal support for the idea of having an independent, non-profit body in charge of the game. It is the only way forward," Searle said. "You only have to look at some of the issues the game has had to deal with in recent weeks to realise how much better things could be handled with one authoritative voice."

Searle will today present his fellow chief executives with a detailed list of the enormous cost reductions of having a singular governing body.

Searle predicts the removal of several boards and the reallocation of funds would see an immediate injection of $10.1m, with the possibility savings could be as high as $12m.

Today's meeting in Sydney will also focus on a series of salary cap reforms, both long and short-term. For next season, clubs are expected to endorse changes to third-party allowances which could result in the amount being doubled to $300,000. Changes could result in that money being guaranteed by the clubs - currently against the rules - and being used on one player. That could result in dramatic increases in the earning power of players such as North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston and Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne, edging them close to the $1m a season bracket.

Changes are also expected to the long-serving player allowance. Clubs are expected to continue to investigate concepts such as a draft and loyalty payments.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news

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Gallop calls for unity for game's sake as rivals take free kicks

NRL CEO David Gallop has made an impassioned plea to all of the game's partners to settle their differences over the structure of an independent commission as soon as possible, warning delays are ''giving the knockers within the game and indeed other codes a free kick''.

The 16 NRL clubs signed off on a unanimous motion for an independent commission in January, but News Ltd and the ARL are still no closer to handing over control of the game.

As the code comes under fire over the lack of official action following the Andrew Johns race row, Gallop urged stakeholders to make an IC a reality as soon as possible.

Advertisement: Story continues below"We're on the verge of bringing the game together into one building which is a fantastic opportunity for rugby league," Gallop said.

"The need to unite the corporate governance of rugby league has been on everyone's agenda but the hesitancy about it happening is creating uncertainty around the game.

"The complex nature of the game's current structure continues to cause confusion that has led over recent days to what has at times been unfair criticism of each individual organisation within the sport.

"In many ways we are giving the knockers within the game and indeed other codes a free kick.''

Phil Gould, the most successful coach in State of Origin history, has said he would consider returning to help the Blues next year - but only if the ARL and News come good on their promise to exit the game.

"We now have a tendency for people to attack one body or another and to talk about things that should happen once a commission is in place,'' Gallop said.

"What we need to do and what the NRL will continue to focus on is what we can put in place now.

"The NRL and the ARL have for some time been working with the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council on a wide range of exciting long-term indigenous issues that capitalise on the success of the NRL All Stars game and Rugby League's Reconciliation Action Plan.

"The NRL is already addressing issues in relation to the salary cap and club finances.

"With the RLPA, we are seeing real gains in the area of player education and welfare … and in promoting cultural support groups such as those initiated by Nigel Vagana.

"The Telstra Premiership remains incredibly strong in terms of crowds, ratings, on-field excitement and community engagement.

"The interest in representative rugby league through the Harvey Norman State of Origin series remains the benchmark in Australian sport.

"For all that, there can be no doubt that the confusion around the game's structure needs to be overcome.''

As the QRL and NSWRL continue to bicker about Israel Folau's Origin III eligibility in the wake of superstar's defection to the AFL, Gallop urged parties to settle on the format of a new governing body ''in coming weeks''.

"The clubs, News Limited and the ARL have each declared their intention to establish a commission and it is clearer than ever that the momentum needs to be maintained,'' he said.

"We would certainly encourage all leagues and parties to settle their issues and to finalise a commission format in coming weeks."

The long road to independence
July 1, 2007: Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer first calls for the ARL and News Ltd to make way for an independent commission. ''I fear for our code,'' Mortimer told The Sun-Herald. ''The game will never die, but it will never thrive until we put the game's agenda before our own.''

June, 2008: Seven NRL club bosses - Michael Searle (Gold Coast), Brian Waldron (Melbourne), Bruno Cullen (Brisbane), Tony Zappia (Cronulla), Denis Fitzgerald (Parramatta), Steve Burraston (Newcastle) and Shane Richardson (South Sydney) - form a committee to look at the game's structure.

December 12, 2009: Representatives of the 16 NRL clubs are invited to a landmark meeting in Sydney to discuss the formation of the commission. One official tells the Herald that a breakaway ''reverse Super League'' competition could be discussed if the ARL and News Ltd continue to stall.

January 18, 2010: The CEOs of all 16 NRL clubs sign off on a unanimous motion for an independent commission at a historic gathering at Sydney's Sheraton on the Park. ''We see ourselves as 16 brothers trying to propagate rugby league,'' commission architect Michael Searle said. ''This is an evolution, not a revolution.''

June 20, 2010: Frustrated by the lack of progress towards a commission, NRL CEO David Gallop tells The Sun-Herald that continued delays are ''giving the knockers within the game and indeed other codes a free kick''.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/

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The Independent Commission can't come soon enough.

Please please bring it about soon. Our game can not afford to enter yet another off season in disarray.

The sky is the limit with a united body!

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QRL 'won't be bullied'

A passionate Ross Livermore says the Queensland Rugby League won't be bullied by threats of withholding millions of dollars of funding should it fail to fall into line in supporting the proposed model for an independent commission.

The QRL has been told to withdraw threats of legal action over the issue by Friday's ARL board meeting or lose up to $10 million funding, with Gold Coast Titans managing director Michael Searle accusing the QRL of "stalling tactics" in a bid to maintain power.

South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson said the clubs were unanimous in sanctioning the QRL unless it took the prospect of a court challenge off the table.

"Our unanimous decision was that we don't fund any more money to the QRL until such time as that litigation is removed," Richardson said.

But QRL managing director Livermore said his body had not threatened legal action, but simply asked for advice on the proposed make-up of the new board, which he believed would hand too much power to the NRL clubs at the expense of the game's foundations.

The QRL has become the pariah state in the debate over the commission, which the clubs want in place immediately after the NRL grand final.

But Livermore insisted Queensland was behind the idea despite issues with the blueprint.

"The QRL has been pushing this. We're not sitting back and saying we don't support this and want it to go away. We're bloody with it," Livermore said.

"But we think we've got a responsibility to the people of the game who have been here for years not to just hand control over to Searle and these blokes who are Johnny-come-latelies.

"We just said we don't think the ARL has handled this correctly under the constitution, where we've [currently] got 50 per cent say, and they've decided just to wipe that and give the clubs the say in the future.

"We'd get 1/26th of the say and so does NSW."

Livermore said threats from Richardson and Searle were hollow and the funding promised by the NRL partnership committee, which administers the finances of the game, would be delivered.

"Shane Richardson doesn't know what he's talking about. He can say what he likes. He has no say on money coming to the QRL," Livermore said.

"We put in an application to the partnership at the start of the year, we put up all our books and budgets. They will fund those projects ? they've agreed to do that."

Livermore and Searle, a chief proponent for an independent commission, have been at loggerheads over the QRL's tactics but Livermore is showing no signs of backing down, insisting the QRL is being driven by respect for the game's grassroots and not self-preservation.

"Let's put a board together that has people that have knowledge of football and knowledge of business, not just people Michael Searle has gone around asking if they would like to be on the board. He's not the be-all and end-all of the game. He's one chief executive," Livermore said.

The ARL board meets on Friday and Livermore said he was expecting to hear a legal counter-argument from the NSWRL as to the validity of the proposed model.

"Either the opinion that we've got is right or the ARL has an opinion that counters what we've got. It's not a case of us starting legal action," Livermore said.

Source: smh.com.au

[DIEHARD]

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."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au

[DIEHARD]

IC Compromise: Clubs Can 'Never' Appoint Commissioners
By STEVE MASCORD

A COMPROMISE deal aimed at ending the stalemate over the Independent Commission will ban NRL clubs from ever appointing anyone to the new body.

The original proposal for an independent commission saw the 16 NRL franchises each own part of the game and after the initial eight commissioners were selected by News Limited and the Australian Rugby League, the clubs would appointed their replacements.

But the structure has changed significantly since, with the NSW and Queensland rugby leagues each given the same voting rights as individUal clubs and the idea of teams having equity in the game being ditched because of fears the sport as a whole could be taken over or go broke depending on the fortunes of the clubs.

Now sportsnewsfirst.com.au can reveal the latest change which proponents of the commission hope can kill of any remaining support for the QRL?s move to block the IC. The clause was part of the deal approved by the ARL in March but has not been widely reported.

?News and the ARL will appoint the first directors and their terms will be staggered, so that the first two will have their tenures expire in two years, and two more two years after that,? said a highly-placed source.

?But the commission will be self-perpetuating ? the commissioners themselves will decide who comes onto the committee. That way, you can?t have clubs, or the state leagues saying ?you can only stay on the commission if you look after our interests?.

?The clubs and the state leagues will not be able to appoint commissioners. What they will have is the right of veto over appointments. That is the way it is on the AFL Commission and the clubs there have only used their veto rarely.?

ARL and NRL club officials hope the QRL does not go through with threats of legal action to block the commission. But the ARL is concerned a group trying to topple QRL chairman Ross Livermore and chairman John McDonald is far more radical than the Milton establishment.

Filed for: http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au

[DIEHARD]

No compromise on independence: Searle

TITANS chief executive Michael Searle, the driving force behind the push for an independent commission to run the game, insists there will be no compromise as Queensland officials admit a push to promote Super League architect John Ribot to the NRL partnership committee is doomed to fail.

With News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt having been focused on the Storm salary-cap scandal, negotiations for a commission to be in place by November 1 have stalled, but Searle will use Friday's NRL club chief executives meeting to revive momentum.

After returning from an overseas trip last Friday to news of a revolt in Queensland by the state's second-tier clubs who want Ribot elevated to greater power in the game, Searle made it clear last night that the model agreed to for the independent commission was not negotiable.

''I will give an update at this Friday's CEOs meeting on recent developments in Queensland,'' Searle said. ''I don't think anyone saw that coming but it should not affect the timetable for the commission.

''We need to see it in place by the agreed date of November 1 and there will be no negotiation on the independence of the commission.''

Under the proposal negotiated by Searle and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis with Macourt and ARL chairman Colin Love, the 16 NRL clubs would each have one vote to decide the eight independent commissioners, as would the NSWRL and QRL - a total of 18 votes.

But Ribot has been lobbying the QRL to oppose such a model and wants the ARL - through the NSWRL and QRL - to have the same representation as the clubs combined.

Such a move would be a virtual retention of the status quo for the ARL, with News Ltd's 50 per cent stake in the NRL effectively transferring to the clubs.

However, QRL general manager Ross Livermore admitted in a letter to Wynnum Manly chairman Rick Green, the spokesman for the Queensland Cup clubs, that even if Ribot was heading up the negotiations himself, NSW directors had the balance of power at ARL board level. Livermore also told Green that Ribot would not be accepted on to the NRL partnership committee as the ARL would block his appointment. In the four-page letter, issued in response to calls by the Queensland Cup clubs for him and QRL chairman John McDonald to resign, Livermore makes it clear that he believes former Storm coach Mark Murray, who is close to Ribot, was behind the revolt.

''Unfortunately Mark cannot accept that six [NSW] votes will always beat four [Queensland] votes,'' Livermore said. ''He continually expresses his opinion that if the right QRL people were in place on the partnership and the ARL, different decisions would result. How the clubs believe this could occur has not been explained. In reality it is fantasy. Even if John Ribot was on the ARL board, the voting outcome would not be any different.

''The push for John to be a member of the ARL-News partnership [committee] would be just that, as the ARL members would not vote him on to that committee.''

Green told ABC Radio on Sunday that the Queensland Cup clubs, who have threatened to boycott the competition next season if their demands aren't met, were opposed to the NRL clubs having so much power.

''There is a very strongly held view that the game should not be owned by the NRL clubs because there is a concern that the money in the game would be quickly directed to the NRL franchises and as a result the grassroots [would] suffer,'' Green said.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Quayle is still in line to lead the commission

FORMER ARL supremo John Quayle remains in contention to be the inaugural chairman of the newly formed independent commission, as clubs are prepared to sack commissioners if they are not satisfied with the quality of candidates appointed by News Ltd and the ARL.

In the wake of the Herald's revelation yesterday that Quayle was not on a list of 128 candidates for the eight commissioner posts drawn up by a consultancy firm, it has emerged that the ARL and QRL are yet to forward the names of nominees, meaning the number of candidates to be considered is set to grow even larger.

However, the Herald has been told that unless those appointed are better qualified than the eight candidates selected by club representatives from a lengthy identification and interview process, a vote will be called to remove the commissioners.

''If the clubs aren't happy with any of the commissioners then all it will take is 14 votes on the day after the commission is formed to remove them,'' a club official said.

Under the constitution of the new body, clubs can not appoint commissioners but have the ability to remove them with 14 of the 26 votes afforded to the 16 NRL clubs, the NSWRL and QRL and the eight commissioners required to effect such change.

A list of eight preferred commissioners - which included Quayle, former Billabong, Qantas, Brambles and NSW TAB boss Gary Pemberton and Stanford University professor George Foster, who specialises in sports business management - has already been devised by the clubs. It is understood Quayle would be the chairman.

Despite not being on the extensive list provided to News Ltd and the ARL by international recruitment consultancy firm Spencer Stuart, Quayle can still be nominated when a sub-committee comprising of News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt, ARL chairman John Chalk, QRL director Terry Mackenroth and South Sydney chairman Nicholas Pappas, representing the clubs, reviews the suggested candidates.

The candidates put forward by Spencer Stuart's head of board services and executive practices John Mumm, an Australian Rugby Union director, have been categorised into various areas of expertise such as: finance and accounting; legal affairs; sporting; government and community relations; business; media and communications; marketing and sponsorship; and, capital management and investment banking.

Mumm has also suggested the board have a geographical balance, with candidates from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand, as well as female representation and cultural diversity. It is recommended that those appointed have a genuine empathy and interest in rugby league.

Despite fears that the independent commission may not be in place before the start of the season on March 12, a News Ltd spokesman told the Herald yesterday that the media company expected the eight commissioners to be appointed before the end of February.

''News Ltd is committed to ending its involvement in the running of the game and has been working to that effect with the ARL for the past 15 months,'' the spokesman said.

''This is happening several years earlier than anticipated and the timing and manner of News Ltd's exit has never been firmly set down but News has opted to walk away in the best interests of the game, as has the ARL.''

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr also said he was confident the independent commission would be operating before the start of the season. However, Carr said he was still waiting to receive the list of 128 candidates drawn up by Mumm.

It is understood that the list was compiled from nominations forwarded to Mumm and from Spencer Stuart's data base of business executives.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league

[DIEHARD]

Quayle! Quayle! Quayle! Quayle!

[TITAN PETE]

Quayle! Quayle! Quayle! Quayle!

I 2nd 3rd & 4th that !