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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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