NRL's new independent commission to be launched in April, four-man panel to decide eight commissioners
The NRL's long-awaited independent commission will officially be up and running within 10 weeks.
In a historic move, News Limited has placed an April 30 deadline on exiting the game it has half-owned since the Super League war in 1990s.
The new commission - and NRL CEO David Gallop - will have total control over the next television contract.
Four of rugby league's most powerful figures have been chosen by News Ltd and the ARL to choose the eight commissioners charged with driving the code's biggest administrative shake-up.
The four men - ARL chairman John Chalk, News Limited chief operating officer Peter Macourt, QRL director Terry Mackenroth and Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas - will meet this week.
Pappas was invited onto the four-man panel by News to represent the 16 NRL clubs.
The panel will decide on the inaugural commissioners - the independent governing body to take over the game at all levels and make the crucial decisions on expansion and a potential $1 billion TV deal.
The television talks will involve the country's most powerful businessmen, with indications Channel Ten part-owners James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch will be entering a bidding war to win the rights from Channel Nine.
News Limited newspapers have reported the inaugural chairman of the commission is likely to be a Queenslander.
Former World Cup winger John Grant, an old team-mate of Wayne Bennett at Brisbane Souths, is being pitched for the job by influential figures.
The other near certain commissioner is highly regarded former TAB boss Warren Wilson. He is a former player and narrowly missed out on the Brisbane Broncos chief executive job to replace Bruno Cullen.
Wilson's expertise in the gambling industry is seen as a vital asset at a time when the game faces match-fixing issues and the right to charge the bookmaking industry for using its intellectual property, which is worth an estimated $25 million a year.
A possible role for former ARL boss John Quayle shapes as the biggest sticking point.
His name was not on the original list of 130 supplied by leading international recruitment firm Spencer Stuart, who were commissioned by the ARL and News to provide a framework for the selection process and identify a short-list of potential candidates.
Quayle's name has since been added among extra nominations from the ARL, NSWRL, QRL and the 16 NRL clubs that will go to the four-man panel.
Gallop has welcomed news that the formation of a commission was getting closer.
"News has been committed to exiting the game for some time," Gallop said. "Everyone needs to get the detailed work in that done properly. That's normal business practice.
"In the meantime, it's important that we focus on what should be one of the most outstanding battles for the premiership the game has seen. Fans at all clubs are champing at the bit for it to start."
Under the historic agreement, News is transferring its half-share of the game to the ARL, which is being restructured under a new constitution as the ARL Commission, bringing in the eight commissioners, the NSWRL, the QRL and the 16 NRL clubs as new members.
Once the panel of Macourt, Chalk, Pappas and Mackenroth determine the final eight names, approaches will be made to sound out interest and availability.
In the meantime, the constitution for the new commission is close to finalisation.
Work is also underway on two other important documents - a deed of dissolution for the existing NRL body and a members agreement, formalising the commission's relationship with the respective leagues; allowing continued funding for grassroots and bringing sponsorship, marketing and business plans under the control of one body.
Work is also about to start on the transfer of contracts, including those involving broadcasters and sponsors, from the existing NRL board to the new commission.
Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au