QRL officials, accused of stalling the introduction of the Independent Commission, could table a new proposal for the Independent Commission on 3 December as a king hit on the 16 NRL clubs looking to profit from the current Independent Commission proposal.
Under a revised proposal, the 16 current NRL clubs could receive absolutely no vote to select or remove any Independent Commissioner.
This new model would give all votes only to elected league officials representing the major state and regional bodies throughout Australia.
While the counter-proposal will not be popular among the owners of the current NRL clubs who will effectively lose millions of dollars and long-term control of NRL funds, it will keep the ARL focused on its true objectives – the development and growth of rugby league in Australia.
Importantly, these ARL objectives won’t be subjected to the self-serving goals of the current 16 NRL clubs and businesses which would only stifle independence and growth of the sport.
Although the signatories to this deal, the QRL and NSWRL chairmen, have announced they will not seek re-election in 2011, their legacy could be the success of a truly independent body taking rugby league to new levels.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yeah - not many posts at all. But if you took out the Central Coast dribble started by you and Beowulf the other strings would be about this size, too. It's easy for people to put forward their emotional views on club participation in the NRL - but it is clear that very few RL fans actually understand what the IC proposal is about. Many think it emulates the AFL IC model - and many think it is independent simply because it is called the Independent Commission. While I understand you have a single goal and agenda to push, the IC model will replace the ARL structure as we know it and replace the current controls - and therefore it is a bigger change to our game than Superleague. It is a shame the typical Roar reviewer can't comprehend the IC proposal. I might add that my original post on the IC was quoted directly (three complete paragraphs) by the Australian, SMH and papers in Brisbane and Perth; was publicly commented on by ARL and NSWRL Chairman Colin Love and QRL Chairman Ross Livermore; and the Queensland Sports Minister has personally replied to me. If my concerns did not hold the truth, this would not have occurred.
Col the Bear
Guest
by the amount of posts.. here it seems people are over the IC and when it's gonna happen.. why not just make it happen..
ScottWoodward.me
Guest
Well said John. The game indeed does belong to the people and don’t forget the players provide the product, which was the fundamental reason why Super League was created because the players and the fans were getting ripped off. It is significant that the brainchild behind SL was John Ribot and he is at loggerheads with the QRL but has the support of the Qld Cup clubs. It is hard to argue that the other territories, especially the NZRL, should not have a say around the IC table. The IC should be about protecting and growing the wider game of Rugby League and should NOT be controlled by any one territory that has a vested club interest. It has to be able to think strategically and not at club level. We only have to see what the NSW clubs have come up with to red flag possible future problems when they nominated Alan Jones as their rep on the IC. Now Jones is a genuine superstar and I would have no problem if he was our PM, but he simply is NOT independent and as a part owner of a radio station he cannot possibly sit on the IC otherwise it is a joke. There is a massive conflict of interest with many of the advertisers including his boss John Singleton, who owns a brewery and his mate Gerry Harvey owner of Harvey Norman. What about negotiating the best radio rights deal? All this info is well documented so the simple fact that the NSW NRL clubs still want Jones underlines that they cannot think beyond what is best for them and not the game.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Good point, Corey. But that's what I wrote - "This new model would give all votes only to elected league officials representing the major state and regional bodies throughout Australia". I actually agree - the other states' regions or divisions should have a say, too. But if you believe in the grassroots you need to understand the current IC proposal better. It removes influence and funding from the regions and gives it to the current 16 NRL clubs whose Chairmen are elected to look after the interests of their clubs. The QRL is being made to look like the enemy of rugby league - but they are the protectors.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Then why haven't they yet? They don't have a vote at all currently - nor have they EVER. Hmm, maybe its not as easy as that, hey.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
So many holes - where do I start? - The mighty Magpies, South Brisbane, was formed in 1908 - and is therefore as old as any NSW foundation club. The flawed arroagance of the NSW version of rugby league history astounds me. - The NRL competition has its foundations on the ARL competition - which was controlled by the ARL not the NSWRL (it was officially handed over to the ARL to make it a national game - which was going along nicely in terms of that mandate until Superleague). - The currently 16 NRL clubs didn't "found" the NRL, nor even the NSWRL or QRL. In fact, they didn't exist as RL clubs prior to the competition existing (in either NSWRL and Brisbane RL forms). The "leagues" existed first - the clubs existed second. - Club revenue is gained through being allowed to partipate in the NRL - the NRL doesn't get it's money from the particular clubs it allows in. If a club isn't in the NRL, they won't "make all the revenue" as you put it. Ask the Bears! - The clubs currently DO get a fair share of the revenues that the ARL gets. Unfortunately the ARL only gets 50% with News getting the other 50%. But RL isn't successful because of 16 clubs, it's successful because of the hundreds of clubs around the country and all regions and divisions deserve their fair share! - Origin and Australian teams exist IN SPITE OF the clubs - the ARL enforces that all players must make themselves available for rep teams (unless given special exemption such as being in twilight years). The clubs don't want to release their players but they don't have a choice - thankfully. However that may change under a club-influenced IC model. - Clubs may keep players at their peek - but it is the regions and divisions who gave every one of them their start - not the 16 NRL clubs / companies. - The only Queensland clubs speaking against the QRL are those financially linked to NRL clubs (officially "feeder" clubs but they are financed by NRL clubs to keep players off their books) - or those that are companies (such as Titans). I'm sure you'd love to go back to the days of the NSWRL and sit on the hill on Sunday arvo - walk away from the QRL you say. I can see how people would have enjoyed those times - and it is fine that that's your opinion. But the points you raised are mostly wrong and stem from a view that the Sydney clubs started rugby league - which is seriously flawed.
John
Guest
I agree totally with the concerns of the QRL. Allowing the current (self serving) NRL clubs to have 16 votes is ludicrous. Also the QRL have been arguing for the affilated states to have some say. The game belongs to the people not the NRL, NSWRL or QRL or any other body.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
The QRL needs to shut up and sit out. I'm a Queenslander through and through, but I can't stand the QRL, they almost lost all support from the Q-Cup teams and now they have lost all support from the NRL clubs. The independent commission is meant to be independent. What about NZRL or the VRL, what say do they have in it, nothing yet there are clubs there!!! The ARL should be focused on AUSTRALIA, not just QLD and NSW. Bring in the commission and bring on the best business heads in the country. Hopefully the QRL is only left to growing the game at the grass roots level from now on.
Mat Harvey
Guest
Good luck with that, maybe its time the NRL clubs just walked way from the QRL. Remember that the NRL comp at the moment has its origins in the NSWRL, and what clubs have been there promoting rugby league for the past 100 years? If anything their efforts deserve to be rewarded, there would be no national competition without the NSW based NRL teams. Now tell me if you founded something, don't you deserve to be given ownership and power to control it? I think you do. And don't you think that if you make all the revenue then you deserve a fair shair of the say? Remember that their would be no Origin or Australian team without the clubs, proffessional athletes can't stay proffessional if they only play representative games all year. Who keeps these players at their peek condition? Oh wait you know who it is? It is the clubs, they train the players, they bring them through. To be honest, I would rather nothing more then to see the Clubs and the NSWRL walk away from the QRL. Its funny even the Queensland based clubs see the problems with the QRL.
Gary J
Guest
Well good luck with that then. The moment this proposal above got voted in the 16 NRL clubs would form their own body. They would keep all the cash from the tv contracts and what the NRL generates. They would set up their own Origin and national team (or even a new international body).