ManlyBacker
Winging it
<p>The chief executives, coaches, captains and chairmen of the 16 NRL clubs are expected to make a united demand today for an independent commission to take control of rugby league - before, they say, it is too late.</p>
<p>When the on- and off-field leaders of the clubs assemble for the historic meeting at Sydney's Sheraton On The Park hotel, they will be told of the need to have the independent commission up and running well before negotiations for a new television deal are due to begin early next year.</p>
<p>With officials eager to substantially increase the salary cap, they hope talks with broadcasters can begin well in advance of the expiry of the first right of refusal agreement with Channel Nine and Fox Sports in March 2011.</p>
<p>But if News Ltd and the ARL do not quickly agree to relinquish their 50 per cent stakes in the NRL, it is feared that the clubs - and players - may not see the full financial benefits of an independent commission until the next television deal in 2017.</p>
<p>Such a scenario would mean stars such as North Queensland and Test halfback Johnathan Thurston, the latest big name considering a switch to rugby union, would be less likely to stay in the NRL because the game's top players cannot earn as much as their counterparts in other codes.</p>
<p>Thurston, who will today discuss his future with NRL chief executive David Gallop, is among those flying long distances to attend the meeting - an indication of its significance to the code's future.</p>
<p>The gathering, which begins at 10am and is expected to last for several hours, is the first time the clubs have met without the presence of NRL officials, and News and the ARL are believed to have taken a dim view of what they consider an unsanctioned meeting.</p>
<p>For most of those attending, it will also be the first time they have seen documents detailing the proposal Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle has been working on behind the scenes for 18 months with Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis, News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt and ARL chairman Colin Love.</p>
<p><strong>It is understood the main stumbling blocks to an agreement are:</strong></p>
<p>The ARL wanting to appoint up to half of the eight independent commissioners to protect State of Origin and grassroots development;</p>
<p>News Ltd wanting an exit fee of up to $30 million to cover the Melbourne Storm's losses for six years;</p>
<p>Safeguards to prevent the clubs changing the constitution so they get a bigger share of profits.</p>
<p>Searle organised today's meeting after the ARL board last month failed to approve a deal with News for the two NRL partners, who appoint three directors each to the partnership committee and NRL board, to hand control to the clubs.</p>
<p>While ARL board members say it was unrealistic to expect them to accept a proposal they had not seen without due consideration, it is understood that Queensland directors simply want the clubs to take over News Ltd's 50 per cent stake in the game and elect four directors - not all eight.</p>
<p>Since then, Love and Macourt have held further talks but the failure of the ARL and News to unravel the 1997 Super League peace deal that led to the partnership between the two protagonists in the code's civil war has caused frustration among clubs.</p>
<p>''The partnership we've had over the past decade or so is more of a transitionary mode, about bringing the game back together,'' Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphries said. ''In that context, it's served its purpose and done a good job. The next step in the evolution can put us on the path for bigger and better things for the future, bring a bit more ambition to what we're trying to achieve in rugby league.</p>
<p>''One body driving the game will mean that decision-making can be done more effectively. Longer term, it will mean more emphasis on strategic thinking and planning. A commission will ensure we're heading in the right direction.''</p>
<p>Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said he hoped the independent commission would be in place by the start of the season if it was possible.</p>
<p>''That would be good but it's not a must-have,'' Greenberg said. ''It's fair to say that it's slowed down after that period prior to Christmas but hopefully [today's meeting] will take it forward and get us a result relatively quickly. If the timeline blows out by a few months, that's not a big drama. But with the impetus that's got us to this stage, if it doesn't happen now, it may never happen.''</p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>HOW THE PROPOSED MODEL FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WORKS</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p>News Ltd and the ARL to give up their 50 per cent stakes in the NRL.</p>
<p>Eight independent commissioners elected by the clubs to run the game.</p>
<p>Each commissioner requires 75 per cent support to be appointed.</p>
<p>Commissioners could not hold positions with clubs or any other body within the game.</p>
<p>The NSWRL and QRL will continue to manage State of Origin teams and competitions in their states.</p>
<p>The ARL to be disbanded but may live on as the name of the new body overseeing the premiership.</p>
<p>An NRL-style management team to run the elite competition, with David Gallop mooted as CEO.</p>
<p>The commission to be responsible for distributing funding to all areas of the game.</p>
<p> </p>
<a href="http://www.silvertails.net/news/4488-independent-commission-the-plan.html">Read the full article</a>
<p>When the on- and off-field leaders of the clubs assemble for the historic meeting at Sydney's Sheraton On The Park hotel, they will be told of the need to have the independent commission up and running well before negotiations for a new television deal are due to begin early next year.</p>
<p>With officials eager to substantially increase the salary cap, they hope talks with broadcasters can begin well in advance of the expiry of the first right of refusal agreement with Channel Nine and Fox Sports in March 2011.</p>
<p>But if News Ltd and the ARL do not quickly agree to relinquish their 50 per cent stakes in the NRL, it is feared that the clubs - and players - may not see the full financial benefits of an independent commission until the next television deal in 2017.</p>
<p>Such a scenario would mean stars such as North Queensland and Test halfback Johnathan Thurston, the latest big name considering a switch to rugby union, would be less likely to stay in the NRL because the game's top players cannot earn as much as their counterparts in other codes.</p>
<p>Thurston, who will today discuss his future with NRL chief executive David Gallop, is among those flying long distances to attend the meeting - an indication of its significance to the code's future.</p>
<p>The gathering, which begins at 10am and is expected to last for several hours, is the first time the clubs have met without the presence of NRL officials, and News and the ARL are believed to have taken a dim view of what they consider an unsanctioned meeting.</p>
<p>For most of those attending, it will also be the first time they have seen documents detailing the proposal Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle has been working on behind the scenes for 18 months with Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis, News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt and ARL chairman Colin Love.</p>
<p><strong>It is understood the main stumbling blocks to an agreement are:</strong></p>
<p>The ARL wanting to appoint up to half of the eight independent commissioners to protect State of Origin and grassroots development;</p>
<p>News Ltd wanting an exit fee of up to $30 million to cover the Melbourne Storm's losses for six years;</p>
<p>Safeguards to prevent the clubs changing the constitution so they get a bigger share of profits.</p>
<p>Searle organised today's meeting after the ARL board last month failed to approve a deal with News for the two NRL partners, who appoint three directors each to the partnership committee and NRL board, to hand control to the clubs.</p>
<p>While ARL board members say it was unrealistic to expect them to accept a proposal they had not seen without due consideration, it is understood that Queensland directors simply want the clubs to take over News Ltd's 50 per cent stake in the game and elect four directors - not all eight.</p>
<p>Since then, Love and Macourt have held further talks but the failure of the ARL and News to unravel the 1997 Super League peace deal that led to the partnership between the two protagonists in the code's civil war has caused frustration among clubs.</p>
<p>''The partnership we've had over the past decade or so is more of a transitionary mode, about bringing the game back together,'' Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphries said. ''In that context, it's served its purpose and done a good job. The next step in the evolution can put us on the path for bigger and better things for the future, bring a bit more ambition to what we're trying to achieve in rugby league.</p>
<p>''One body driving the game will mean that decision-making can be done more effectively. Longer term, it will mean more emphasis on strategic thinking and planning. A commission will ensure we're heading in the right direction.''</p>
<p>Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said he hoped the independent commission would be in place by the start of the season if it was possible.</p>
<p>''That would be good but it's not a must-have,'' Greenberg said. ''It's fair to say that it's slowed down after that period prior to Christmas but hopefully [today's meeting] will take it forward and get us a result relatively quickly. If the timeline blows out by a few months, that's not a big drama. But with the impetus that's got us to this stage, if it doesn't happen now, it may never happen.''</p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>HOW THE PROPOSED MODEL FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WORKS</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p>News Ltd and the ARL to give up their 50 per cent stakes in the NRL.</p>
<p>Eight independent commissioners elected by the clubs to run the game.</p>
<p>Each commissioner requires 75 per cent support to be appointed.</p>
<p>Commissioners could not hold positions with clubs or any other body within the game.</p>
<p>The NSWRL and QRL will continue to manage State of Origin teams and competitions in their states.</p>
<p>The ARL to be disbanded but may live on as the name of the new body overseeing the premiership.</p>
<p>An NRL-style management team to run the elite competition, with David Gallop mooted as CEO.</p>
<p>The commission to be responsible for distributing funding to all areas of the game.</p>
<p> </p>
<a href="http://www.silvertails.net/news/4488-independent-commission-the-plan.html">Read the full article</a>
