THE PUSH for an independent commission to run rugby league has taken a giant step forward at a tense meeting in Sydney this week.

ARL bosses are believed to have made significant concessions that could result in News Ltd exiting the game before the start of the season.

Despite the Queensland Rugby League's refusal to budge on its demand for 50 per cent control, ARL chairman Colin Love and chief executive Geoff Carr are understood to have indicated the ARL might accept two votes - one each for the NSWRL and QRL - in choosing the eight independent commissioners.

The meeting, which was attended by News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt, ARL chairman Colin Love, chief executive Geoff Carr and QRL directors Terry Mackenroth and Bruce Hatcher, is the first development of note since NRL clubs last month unanimously voted for an independent commission take over the running of the game before the premiership kick-off on March 12.

In an indication that there is division between the QRL and NSWRL on the issue, the QRL is believed to have wanted NSWRL directors John Chalk and Bob Millward to attend the meeting instead of Love and Carr.

Under the proposal negotiated with Macourt by Gold Coast Titans chief executive Michael Searle and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis, the 16 clubs would have one vote each - meaning that there could now be 18 votes if the NSWRL and QRL are also given a vote.

To be elected to the independent commission, a candidate would need 75 per cent of the votes.

In a letter distributed to junior clubs in Queensland after Thursday's meeting, QRL general manager Ross Livermore and chairman John McDonald questioned why the ARL would agree to such a move.

The four-page letter suggests the QRL is unwilling to compromise, and reaffirms their stance that the ARL should appoint four of the commissioners and the clubs decide on the remaining four positions.

However, the fact that Love and Carr were open to the possibility of the ARL, through the NSWRL and QRL, having two votes to help safeguard representative football and junior development suggests a breakthrough might not be too far away.

If necessary, NSWRL directors could push through an agreement with News Ltd as they have six votes to the QRL's four on the ARL board.

Until now, Love and Carr had appeared unwilling to use the numbers the NSWRL hold at board level but, with the QRL appearing unwilling to compromise on its stance that the News Ltd hand its 50 per cent stake in the game to the clubs and the ARL retain the other 50 per cent, that might now force the issue.

News Ltd is unwilling to exit the game while the ARL is still involved, and wants to hand full control to the clubs, who have no say as the NRL is a partnership of the former Super League war protagonists.

But giving the NSWRL and QRL a vote each will prevent the clubs from altering the constitution of the independent commission for their own benefit as just two votes are needed to prevent any change.

However, in the letter - obtained by the Herald - Livermore and McDonald said the QRL did not believe it was in the game's best interests to hand control to the clubs.

''The QRL believes the best way of ensuring the independent commission serves the interests of all the game's stakeholders is for the QRL and NSWRL, through the ARL, to jointly nominate four independent candidates to the proposed eight-member board of the commission with the NRL clubs doing the same,'' the letter stated.

''Under the current proposal for the new structure, the ARL and News Ltd would hand over control to a new independent commission. Under their agreement, News Ltd is proposing to deliver its 50 per cent share of the game to the NRL clubs when they exit.

''The ARL has a 50 per cent ownership position and we believe it would not be in rugby league's best interests to eventually hand full control to the NRL clubs - who represent the game's elite.

''In other words, why would the ARL … walk away and place the game's future in the hands of the clubs, a number of which are privately owned?''