League administration is a young man's game

Don't forget Murdoch apparently has the ex Chinese spy missus according to Palmer. Hahaha.

Searle has been a chartered accountant for a long tme on the GC,so hardly out of his depth when dealing with financial matters.The club has a large debt,on an asset which at least covers that debt'The centre of excellence. Have there been cash flow probelms? Yes,just as there are cash flow problems in more than a few operating companies and businesses. Can CEOs make mistakes ?Yep! Can building contractors make mistakes or do the wrong thing at times? Yep! Searle travels regularly overseas ,as he manages a world class Australian surfer. The NRL is trying to stop the 4 cnrs episode being aired ? Really !The NRL has already conducted their audit into the Titans situation.The NRL admin would be putting themselves on the chopping b;lock,if they had doubts about the Titan's situation. The NRL to my knowledge did not stop the 4 cnrs Coffs Harbour incident from going to air nor the M Johns incident.Subsequently many of the issues raised in that Coff's harbour episode were found to be untrue,as a policeman who left the force confirmed. I would not be questioning anyone's integrity,until justice or evidence is provided to the contrary.

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.

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.

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.

Russell Crowe can generate money and high profile supporters. A bit like why Aussie kids buy NY hats, you see the singers/rappers wearing them. Lachlan actually invests money into League, he is the no. 1 ticket holder for the Broncos, whilst his wife Sarah is a massive Manly supporter. So they love their league and will want it to prosper. And he has experience, he knows what not to do.

Hunt wasn't going to Rugby at first, he was going to stay with the Broncs as Lockyer took a pay cut to keep him (which would have had Hunt's pay packet at 550-600k/year) and he was being offered the captaincy as soon as Lockyer retired. Folau says he is going for the challenge, bull crap, if he wants a challenge play 5/8th or Front Row, or try winning every game and the premiership every year. Now theres a challenge. Honestly, would he have gone to AFL if they paid him 500k a year like the Broncos were doing. The truth is, if Folau didn't lie and said the money was why he was going the NRL would listen to this and do something about it, but they hear is going for the challenge, so they think there is nothing they can do about it. I honestly don't mind losing a couple of players here and there to other codes, its good, it shows kids that there will always be room in rep squads and the like. But I do get really ticked off when my club is the constant target, the Broncos. Look at the bloody Panthers, most of the NSW team comes through Western Sydney - look at those clubs. Inglis will go only for the money, not what I would say is what I would want a player in my team for. We see in the QLD team that passion is what makes a team, not money. But, like I said, I don't mind I just won't be watching them, I will watch their first game and that's it. On to other news, who are the Broncos going to buy with all this money they have left now?!

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!!!!!

You can't have Lachlan if it's an independent commission..

Good call, Ribot has a dubious rep in league circles. and Russell Crowe connections to Hollywood? Im not sure why this is relevant. So does Tom Cruise

nor would i have john ribot near the commission!

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.

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

After losing $560 million in the Super league venture im not sure Murdoch the best person to have as a admistrator.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.