NRL executives and CEO's to debate Rugby Leagues hottest issues

[DIEHARD]

NRL executives and CEO's to debate Rugby Leagues hottest issues

THE politics of rugby league always makes for entertaining theatre and there is guaranteed to be plenty of robust debate at the NRL chief executive's conference in Coogee on Thursday.

With all 16 NRL CEOs and chairmen in attendance, NRL chief executive David Gallop has the opportunity to address a number of key issues including:

* THE anticipated $1 billion TV rights deal;

* INCREASES in the salary cap for next season and beyond;

* THE progress of the independent commission; and

* SCHEDULING issues with the NRL and representative season.The gathering of rugby league's heaviest political hitters will mark the first time since the NRL annual conference in Byron Bay last November that the game's powerbrokers have all attended the same strategy meeting.

South Sydney chairman Nick Pappas is expected to provide an update on the status of the independent commission and how it will assume the day-to-day running of the code.

Gallop will present a variety of working scenarios centred around how the game can best utilise the anticipated $1 billion TV rights deal to be negotiated next year.

"It's important that we continue planning for the future in consultation with the clubs," Gallop said.

"We're going to look at 2013 onwards and run some scenarios in relation to the level of the club grant and the salary cap.

"We're anticipating a huge uplift in television rights and that will give us the opportunity to reach a long-held goal of matching the grant with the cap."

On scheduling, Gallop said he would confirm the Anzac Test and City-Country match would be played on a stand-alone weekend next season.

It will also mark the first time Penrith general manager of rugby league Phil Gould - one of the current NRL administration's harshest critics - has attended such a meeting.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl

[DIEHARD]

Should be a productive meeting. And the addition of Phil Gould will be a bonus, he is a very intelligent and passionate man, who is incredibly loyal to our game.

He may not always be right but I'd call him a role model.

I'm also pleased to see a continued Anzac Test on a dedicated weekend.

Let's hope lots of positives and realities come out of this one.