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The sun will finally rise on a new era in rugby league on Friday, but the average fan isn’t likely to feel any immediate effect from the inauguration of the independent commission.
The long-awaited new governing body for the code will assume control just weeks out from the start of the NRL season, with negotiations for a new broadcast rights deal the first item on its agenda.
But while Friday may herald the formal handover, the new board has already been hard at work for several months as it sets about bringing together the game under the one umbrella.
“It’s about setting game-wide strategies, it’s about reviewing operations,” an NRL spokesperson said.
“In the past we’ve had game-wide strategic plans, but they’ve all been put together within the limitations of the existing structure.”
The installation of an independent body to run the game – the brainchild of Gold Coast Titans chief executive Michael Searle – has been plagued by bickering between parties desperate to ensure they retained a voice under the new regime.
It was initially thought the commission would be in place before the start of the 2010 season, but that continued to be pushed back to the frustration of many of those involved in the process.
A new headquarters for the code at Moore Park will be symbolic of the fresh change, but many aspects will remain the same.
NRL chief David Gallop will remain the administrative face of the game, while the NSW and Queensland rugby leagues, along with the country associations, will retain their foothold.
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