Brainchild of Wayne Pearce. Bloke is fucked in the head.
Thank goodness he is on the way out.....as players too are not happy with the way he and his committee have tinkered with the rules......
www.theaustralian.com.au
Wayne Pearce’s time on the ARL Commission is coming to an end
BRENT READFollow @brentread_7
Wayne Pearce has been on the ARL Commission for the best part of a decade. He was one of the inaugural commissioners and has outlasted everyone.
His time, however, is coming to an end. Pearce’s latest term on the commission is due to expire in February and he told Weekend Read this week that he was undecided about continuing.
Word is that it may not be his decision anyway.
The clubs wield more power and influence these days and some of them believe the time has come for turnover, even though Pearce has forged a close relationship with ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys
It is understood a list is already being put together of potential replacements for the Balmain legend, although it won’t necessarily be that easy.
Pearce is one of the few people on the commission with rugby league DNA.
The challenge for the clubs will be finding a former player with the smarts to make a contribution and the gravitas to warrant being a member of the commission.
There was talk that the clubs would be interested in replacing Pearce with Peter Sterling, the Parramatta legend who is about to call time on his commentating career with the Nine Network.
Sterling is regarded as one of the sharpest minds in the game. He is also a popular figure with fans, having been voted as the game’s favourite TV analyst in a recent poll on NRL.com.
Weekend Read broached the potential approach with Sterling and while he was flattered that his name was raised, he indicated that he would be reluctant to take on a demanding position given he is seeking to wind down his involvement in the code.
Mark Coyne, who was a commissioner before standing aside after an incident in Singapore two years ago, would no doubt have support but there is a view that his return is impossible.
The clubs and V’landys have time on their side given they don’t need to make a call until early next year. Before then, the commission is expected to have filled the vacant eighth position, having already sounded out former Nine Network boss David Gyngell.
Gyngell was believed to be flattered by the approach but reticent to throw himself back into the game at such a high level.
Pearce, meanwhile, was under the gun from rugby league fans and players on Friday after suggesting more tinkering with the rules in the final round of the season.
Pearce, who is on the innovation committee, suggested a change to the rules around kicking into touch. Melbourne prop Christian Welch was among those to raise concerns.
“Please just leave our game alone,” he wrote on social media.
“The tension, grind, pressure & game management almost already gone. Would love the commission for less gimmicking with the rules & more focus on bigger picture strategy.”
