League administration is a young man’s game
Roar Guru By M1tch, 7 Jul 2010 M1tch is a Roar Guru
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- Canterbury Bulldogs, Michael Searle, NRL, robert finch, Rugby League, Sonny Bill Williams, St George Illawarra Dragons, Steve Noyce, Sydney Roosters, Todd Greenberg
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If the past few years has taught the rugby league community anything, it is that the next generation of administrators are in it for the fans.
Todd Greenberg was still settling into his role at the Bulldogs when Sonny Bill left the club and the game, which has outraged the rugby league public even still to this day. Todd appeared in countless TV interviews, he was always strong and composed in his answering of the tough questions, and stood up for the sanctity of a contract.
The outcome was the best for all parties concerned, but the Bulldogs were the club that came out with a better identity.
The Bulldogs had a horror 2008, finishing with the wooden spoon, so when Todd announced his plans for the Bulldogs to have 10,000 members by 2010, it was seen more as a publicity stunt, and I doubt many took it seriously.
The Bulldogs culture was the worst in the NRL, by far. Their recruitment strategy was to get experience in the likes of Brett Kimmorley, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson and Ben Hannant.
Todd expressed that they wanted good footballers, but also good people.
Come round 1 2009, the Bulldogs culture was completely turned around; the family club as they have been known for many years was finally back associated with the club.
Go over to the other side, the Roosters, a club where it takes less money to join is now the club which has taken over the mantel as a club with the worst culture, and off field incidents are as common as Dragons getting a Friday night game.
Steve Noyce was ‘poached’ by the club to help with their off field incidents, but it seems Steve has no authority over the players and they simply don’t fear him. Jake Friend is a perfect example who has been given opportunity after opportunity but again and again finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Michael Searle was the first young administrator who came onto the scene back in 2005 to launch the Gold Coast bid back into the NRL. He’s young and passionate about the game and it’s no surprise he is a key figure behind the Independent Commission push.
Steve Humphries from the Wests Tigers has been giving new ideas on how the game can guarantee more money come the next TV right negotiations. I’ll admit I’m not a fan of all of his ideas, but at least he’s talking it up.
The Central Coast Bears have Greg Florimo as their CEO, who hasn’t let negative talk from the NRL stop him and his team from building a strong club before they are given entry into the NRL.
We have been embarrassed constantly by Geoff Carr over the past few years; the latest talk of banning Folau from Origin is laughable on his part.
He says we shouldn’t give AFL a free kick during Origin, but he is in the papers every day and on the news talking about Folau and AFL, Geoff, stop talking!
That’s why other codes don’t fear us: you and others keep talking about them. How about looking after rugby league throughout NSW as that’s your job.
Colin Love is another who has been ignoring the international game for years – except since 2008, when the Commission talk first started, and now he is said to be in the box seat for the Commissioner role.
Rugby league’s top administration has been abysmal for many years.
The next 10-15 years, the game needs administrators who have the best interests of the code at heart, strong leadership on the tough issues that will confront the game, and be accountable to the shareholders and the most important people of the game – the fans.
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July 7th 2010 @ 10:20am
Toki said | July 7th 2010 @ 10:20am | Report comment
I think that the NRL need to have a representative from the Aboriginal ,Islander and Maori Communities. By by 2020 the majority of the NRL will be made up people from these communities. At the moment the NRL has a great balance of ethnic origins. And the NRL should be looking to be inclusive of these cultures by getting a people from these back grounds into league administration.
11% – Aboriginal
24% – Polynesians
5 % – Maori
Togther it is just around the 40% mark
While clubs like Parra, Penrith obviously the Warriors Under 20 have over 60% Polynesians in thier youth teams
In fact the NSWRL acadamey has about 53% Polynesians alone.
Around 2020 – they think the figure of Polynesians/ Aboriginal/ Maori players alone will be around the 60- 70% mark.
2050 – It will be 80 – 90% .
It would be ashame if the NRL didnt look to the future on this.
July 7th 2010 @ 11:07am
Mr Cool said | July 7th 2010 @ 11:07am | Report comment
By all means bring in a rep from the Polynesians etc, but make sure that they have a great understanding of what is required to make our game successful and enough sense to make it happen, the game has been run by amateurs and News Ltd puppets for too long.
July 7th 2010 @ 11:15am
Toki said | July 7th 2010 @ 11:15am | Report comment
I agree, having a good head for business, sport, previous league structutes should be the first choice.
July 7th 2010 @ 1:24pm
Zippy said | July 7th 2010 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
With out New Ltd contribution I would say that league wouldnt be as big as it is today. But I think thier time has come and they need to look at a new board
July 7th 2010 @ 1:07pm
Frank said | July 7th 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
You probably have a good point if NRL is going to the majority of islanders, aboriginals and kiwis it probably make sense to have at least someone representing them in a admistration position. Although 90% seems a little high to me
It cetainly seem if there are more player like Foi Foi Moi Moi that there will be a dangerous bunch of blokes playing league. Maybe at least at club level Parramatta need to consist of some polynesians in their board.
July 7th 2010 @ 11:51am
Fed up said | July 7th 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Keep race out of this, an individuals heritage has nothing to do with it,
With players it should be about ability to play the game.
With Admin again it should be about the ability to do the job.
July 7th 2010 @ 12:23pm
Toki said | July 7th 2010 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
I agree, players are picked on talent and ability and not race but the NRL has been pushing the race this with the Aboriginal and All Stars game. Whilst it a exhibition match it a recognises the role of Aboriginal Australias in league. I just think that if a person of that ethnic origin who has had an administration back ground in League that they could make a good case to be employed by the NRL. It would be a little strange having 80% of league player being of Polynesian decent and an all white NRL board.
July 7th 2010 @ 12:29pm
Mo said | July 7th 2010 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
The 10,000 member by 2010 was a Malcom Noad initiative not Todd Greenberg.
Todd has been getting a lot of positive publicity from you jurnos and the success of the Bulldogs last year gave him a honeymoon. Alas he now has to make hard decisions. But trying to force 2 long serving players in Ryan and Patten out with still a year left in their contract is very bad form.
July 7th 2010 @ 12:48pm
Crosscoder said | July 7th 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
There is a recently retired player by the name of Steve Price,Oh! and he has a Masters of Bus.Admin Degree.Think he should be one for the I.C. one of the first picked.
The QRL are acting like dinosaurs.No admin in their right mind will negelect the grassroots.The I.C are not club people,so the interest will be for the game as a whole ,in totality from the top to the bottom..there are a tremendous number of highly qulaified people interested in rl,who would want to get involved in helping the game grow.
EG Bernie Fraser the former Reserve Bank governor a former rl player.He may have the personality or charisma of an easter Island statue,but he got the job done. Kevin Ryan the barrister former dogs and Saints player.Go to any NRL game and witness the corporate types who actually enjoy the game.
The game is being held back by the dinosaurs and the lack of an I.C.Thankfully the NRL clubs are getting young intelligent and forward thinking CEOs on board.That is the first rung of the admin ladder to be sorted out.
July 7th 2010 @ 1:31pm
oikee said | July 7th 2010 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Steve Price would be good to have around, only to learn from these gun players i have listed for the Board. It is a good mixture of brilliant minds and lesser lights to keep a realistic balance, and not get to carried away, trying to turn the whole thing into a money machine. One thing i would hate to see, is the NRL turning into pushy bast#rds, like that other orginisation we all know.
If we have to ram our game down peoples throats, the game is over.
July 7th 2010 @ 6:00pm
Col the bear said | July 7th 2010 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
You can’t have Lachlan if it’s an independent commission..
July 7th 2010 @ 7:43pm
waterboy said | July 7th 2010 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
I can’t see what the hold up is?
The NSWRL have the numbers on the ARL board and therefore it doesn’t matter what the QRL’s attitude is.
Carr and Love delaying the process, and saying it is the QRL holding us back is just bull***t. You have the numbers boys 6-4, just get on with it!!!!!
July 11th 2010 @ 7:09pm
JamesG said | July 11th 2010 @ 7:09pm | Report comment
I agree with the general tone of the original post. We have had too many dinosaurs at the top in RL circles. They are all ex-players who seem to think thru Sydney-centric glasses and dont understand what the fans want, nor how sports businesses operate.
All we need to do is look at the AFL and NFL and copy the things they do well, and adapt other things to RL tastes. Its quite simple really. Certainly dont look to europe for methods for running a sports league. The Premier League is dominated by just 3 teams – Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. The NBA is also a joke, dominated by the LA Lakers.
July 12th 2010 @ 8:36am
Crosscoder said | July 12th 2010 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Agreee with JamesG. The NRL has a fairly even competition,judging by the results of last weekend,they just need new leadership untainted by media issues or run by the old blazer brigade.One thing they don’t need under the new I.C is the arrogance that is thrusted upon the unsuspecting populace by a certain code,which shall remain nameless.
July 13th 2010 @ 10:18pm
rj said | July 13th 2010 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
Michael Searle might be young and passionate but he’s also way out of his depth in charge of the Titans who are already in massive financial trouble. I wonder if his current ‘holiday’ has anything to do with the upcoming Four Corners program the NRL is trying to stop being aired. He should not be allowed anywhere near the Independent Commission.