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NRL no closer to independent commission as opposing sides argue
By Wayne Heming
June 25, 2010
The establishment of an independent commission to take control of rugby league seemed no closer following a high-powered Australian Rugby League board meeting.
The introduction of the commission appeared to take a backward step after the Queensland and NSW Rugby Leagues threw legal punches during a two-hour meeting.
ARL chairman Colin Love emerged from the talks, held at the QRL's Milton headquarters, with a mixed message.
"We had a healthy discussion about the independent commission and things are progressing," he said.
"We're going to organise another meeting with News Limited and hopefully progress further.
"I should really discuss the details (of today's meeting) with them (News Ltd), but nothing's really changed."
If nothing has changed then the chances of the commission being implemented by the NRL clubs' deadline of November 1 haven't improved.
The QRL are deeply concerned they will not have a voice on the commission under the model already agreed to by the ARL, News and the NRL clubs.
The QRL have not ruled out legal action after receiving advice they have good grounds to challenge how the original 6-4 vote by the ARL board was conducted.
One concession they want is to have the right to be able to appoint one of the eight independent commissioners to protect the grass roots of the game.
Under the ARL's model, both the QRL and NSWRL would have one vote each while the 16 NRL clubs, including those funded by News Ltd, and the eight commissioners would also have a vote.
QRL managing director Ross Livermore, who along with chairman John McDonald are reportedly under fire from Queensland Cup clubs angling to dump them, said no decision had been reached about the make-up of an independent commission.
"They had (legal) advice on our proposal but there was technically no decision made on which way we're going to go," Livermore said after the meeting.
"The composition of how the commission will be structured is still to be worked out.
"They want to get some more legal advice and opinion from News and go back to the steering committee and take it from there.
"There was no outcome other than we were all unanimous to get the commission going by the end of the season."
Livermore said the QRL had made it very clear why they were pushing their model rather than the one being pedalled by NSW.
"There's a resolution on the books that we don't agree with in its current format,'' he said.
"We could take a legal challenge if we wanted to, but we're waiting to see what happens.
"We have challenged the way the original resolution (for the independent commission) went through the ARL (in March).
"We still reckon we're right about that. We put together an alternative model and we're debating that new model.
"If that comes about the way we see it, then everything should go ahead.
"At the moment the model that's on the table is the one that was put through on the 11th of March and it's not acceptable to us in its current form.
"With some adjustment and modification, it may be."
By Wayne Heming
June 25, 2010
The establishment of an independent commission to take control of rugby league seemed no closer following a high-powered Australian Rugby League board meeting.
The introduction of the commission appeared to take a backward step after the Queensland and NSW Rugby Leagues threw legal punches during a two-hour meeting.
ARL chairman Colin Love emerged from the talks, held at the QRL's Milton headquarters, with a mixed message.
"We had a healthy discussion about the independent commission and things are progressing," he said.
"We're going to organise another meeting with News Limited and hopefully progress further.
"I should really discuss the details (of today's meeting) with them (News Ltd), but nothing's really changed."
If nothing has changed then the chances of the commission being implemented by the NRL clubs' deadline of November 1 haven't improved.
The QRL are deeply concerned they will not have a voice on the commission under the model already agreed to by the ARL, News and the NRL clubs.
The QRL have not ruled out legal action after receiving advice they have good grounds to challenge how the original 6-4 vote by the ARL board was conducted.
One concession they want is to have the right to be able to appoint one of the eight independent commissioners to protect the grass roots of the game.
Under the ARL's model, both the QRL and NSWRL would have one vote each while the 16 NRL clubs, including those funded by News Ltd, and the eight commissioners would also have a vote.
QRL managing director Ross Livermore, who along with chairman John McDonald are reportedly under fire from Queensland Cup clubs angling to dump them, said no decision had been reached about the make-up of an independent commission.
"They had (legal) advice on our proposal but there was technically no decision made on which way we're going to go," Livermore said after the meeting.
"The composition of how the commission will be structured is still to be worked out.
"They want to get some more legal advice and opinion from News and go back to the steering committee and take it from there.
"There was no outcome other than we were all unanimous to get the commission going by the end of the season."
Livermore said the QRL had made it very clear why they were pushing their model rather than the one being pedalled by NSW.
"There's a resolution on the books that we don't agree with in its current format,'' he said.
"We could take a legal challenge if we wanted to, but we're waiting to see what happens.
"We have challenged the way the original resolution (for the independent commission) went through the ARL (in March).
"We still reckon we're right about that. We put together an alternative model and we're debating that new model.
"If that comes about the way we see it, then everything should go ahead.
"At the moment the model that's on the table is the one that was put through on the 11th of March and it's not acceptable to us in its current form.
"With some adjustment and modification, it may be."