With three weeks to go until the NRL finals series gets under way, you would think that the focus would be on said finals series. Alas, it is not.
If the new ARL Commission didn’t have enough problems including finding a new CEO, the small matter of finalising a new television rights deal and the ever declining quality of the refereeing, the chairmen and CEOs of all 16 clubs have decided to gang up on the new bosses of the game.
They have formed up to make what they have called the “NRL Council”.
The story goes that the clubs have the perception that the Commission has not progressed on issues as quickly as they would like through a lack of communication between the parties.
I can understand where the clubs are coming from because without them there is no NRL. And the Commission does seem to be taking a long time to find the new CEO to replace David Gallop… and please don’t get me started on the referees.
The television rights are a different kettle of fish, however, as it is common knowledge that all parties are under strict non-disclosure agreements.
The problem with all of this is that there are mixed messages everywhere. According to Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden, the apparent spokesman of the NRL Council, the clubs have been in favour of the Commission from the beginning.
Trodden says, “The clubs want these guys because they want independence in the decision-making process. They don’t want to tell people how to make the decisions.” Then why go to all this trouble, David?
If the clubs are happy to let the Commission make the decisions, why the big meeting and secretive emails?
With all of the skulduggery going on, you would think that the commissioners would be less than impressed with these developments. But Commission chairman John Grant has actually agreed to meet with this council at quarterly meetings with the first being held on the 27th August, the Monday before the final round of the season.
This may just be a diplomatic move by Grant to alleviate the tension between the governing body and the clubs. The timing of the meeting doesn’t seem to be a strong point for the clubs as there will be next to nothing that they can change or even alter in their favour in regards to any of the supposed issues.
The yet to be appointed CEO is yet to be named but the Commission has said that it would not be someone who has a current affiliation with any club. If this is true, you could assume that they have an eye on a group of people that they feel are suitable.
Just because they are keeping their cards close to their chest doesn’t mean they have no idea. Surely the Commission should be given the right to select a new CEO without having to explain the ins and outs of the selection process with people who are apparently happy for the Commission to make that decision?
Do the clubs feel they should give Gallop’s successor their tick of approval first? That’s definitely the definition of an independent decision in my eyes.
The television deal is still in negotiations but apparently the clubs want to see the agreement before it is signed off. A luxury that was not afforded to them the last time the rights were negotiated.
I’m not sure it will be afforded to them this time either. The clubs showed their hand late last year when they refused to sign agreements to play in the 2012 season unless they were paid additional funding from the game. They signed after a $500,000 bonus was assured to them.
Basically, the clubs want to see what bonus they might be able to swindle out of the coming rights agreement on top of the promised $500,000. They’ll find out how much the rights have been bought for, at the same time we will.
As for the referees, now is the worst time to try to change anything to do with the game’s officials. If the clubs want to enforce anything it will ensure that the finals are refereed differently to the rest of the season.
Before you shout “Hallelujah!” and thank the rugby league gods, think about this – the refs could actually get worse. The men in pink have endured a really tough season this year with blunder after blunder on the field and in the video ref’s box without a whole lot of support from their coaches.
If the Commission gives the referees any new directives and gives in to the clubs, it will only further deteriorate whatever confidence the referees have.
They’re second guessing themselves now; imagine what decisions and possible flare ups that could occur in the pressure cooker environment of a semi-final or worse the grand final? I’m hopeful that the referee’s performances have been noted and that changes are forthcoming, but after the season is over.
The Independent Commission seems to be doing what the clubs wanted them to do, act independently. The problem is the clubs thought they would be kept in the loop, just like the old days when News Limited wasn’t involved with the running of the game.
They might not care as much if there weren’t so many important issues right now, but there are and the clubs want to know where they stand. It’s too early to make a call on the performance of the Commission just yet, but the wait shouldn’t take too much longer.
The appointment of the new CEO and the value of the television rights deal will give all of us a good idea. But until then, the clubs will be at their wits end. Apparently, that’s what they asked for.
Adam Vaughan
Roar Pro
Point taken D of W. Living and learning. Hope my other articles haven't come across the same way.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
No offense Adam,but when you take post an article which is inaccurate, and straight out of the News Ltd playbook, it does make you out to be a stooge. It would have taken only a little research to find out that Phil Rothfield's article was just full of crap, and only designed to have a go at the NRL commission who is not listening to Phil, and most clubs who have enough of the Tele's mudraking.
Adam Vaughan
Roar Pro
Read that Tinkler is trying to sell his horse racing operation for $200 Million. No takers so far. BTW - read that in the Newcastle Herald (a Fairfax paper). Just for those of you who think I'm a News Limited stooge... :-)
turbodewd
Guest
Sydney teams dont have to die. They can move. The notion would be win-win, coz if, say the Adelaide Panthers visited Sydney they'd instantly have an AWAY following!
planko
Guest
ADAM might be back to the oily rag... http://www.smh.com.au/business/has-nathan-tinklers-luck-run-out-20120816-24bku.html Oikee please no sport worth it salt wants Palmer I am happy to go to Perth & I am happy have to have a Central QLD team but no palmer he is a fruit cake.
Cameron
Guest
"Rugby league fans have to understand that for the game to grow, changes have to accure, and for this to happen a Sydney team or 3 will either die " Your nominations Oikee?
oikee
Guest
Yes, we have the outlet, but its a waste of time doing it in Toyot cup where they dont really need this, they are not a top grade professional comp. Plus it is also a waste of time having the captain calling, he is on the field, he cant see what is happening at all times, unlike when we see video replays. The whole point of the coaches call to me is as follows. And rugby league are already on the back foot because they want to rule out forward passes in the coach call. Obviopus forward pass, this is a no brainer, How many times ahve we seen a forward pass and the video ref cant rule on this, so the coach call would be perfect for this. ?? Its a no brainer, but not according to whoever is running rugby league, anyhow lets move on, cough. Dud calls, if the video ref stuffs up a video ref call, like he has been doing lately, the coach can make a call. A knock on or strip missed in the leadup to a try, only a try. These are the reason why we need the coach calls. If the rules were cleaned up as well, any ball that goes forward regardless, regardless of being knocked out by another player or off someones torso is called a scrum. Now, weather that scrum goes to the attcking team or the defending team depends on how the ball has come out, this needs to be a rule cleaned up by my rule changes i have been screaming out for?? clean up the rules commission, get someone to look at our rules, we have 2 refs, video refs and changes to the game, yet the rules are a dogs breakfast. Anyhow, these are some obvous things that need to be looked at, i am sure i can find plenty mopre, the third man into a 2 man tackle is another. Why is this still in play, why have they not changed this, its dangerous, a blight on the game, we hear it being condeemed every 6 games by commentators, ye tnothing happens, nobody cares enough to make changes. Get a woman running the game, i ave said i would be happy with this. :)
oikee
Guest
I agree, totally agree with you. The game has got to grow evenly. The point ,,,it is not growing evenly. In cap wise yes. Sydney clubs even weak teams like Cronulla, Roosters, Penrith and Parramatta can easily buy some senior players and get themselves back to the top 4-8. Will this grow the game, having weak Sydney teams making the 8 every year. ?? Of course not,. you need state city teams doing well, your Brisbane, Melbourne, even Perth and Adelaide along with NZ and at least 1 Sydney club doing well. This could happen every year, at the moment it cant, because we are feeding off the Brisbanes and NZ teams to keep the weak Sydney teams strong. And what is the reward for NZ, or Brisbane, ? Getting flogged, that is our reward, then according to you, we should be punished further by not getting as much cash. Mate, why dont we just have a Sydney comp and the rest of Australia and NZ can have a national comp, because this is what super league tried to acheive, way back in 1995. See where i am going, if the commission cant change , relaocate, cut Sydney teams, introduce other cities like Perth adelaide, a second Brisbane team, etc, what is the sense of even having a commission. The game has got to grow, by trying to hold back the powerhouse clubs wont grow the game, why should i in Perth, me in Melbourne, NZ or even Brisbane give a flying fig about cronulla Playing Manly every second year. You will lose veiwers quicker than robinson crusoe loses sight of a rescue ship,. Dont be fooled, the biggest TV numbers are big city teams in finals, if Manly are in this year, i wont be watching, i have already stopped watching their games this year. I tape and delete if they win. And is what i am saying, why bother, i know the game is geared to help Sydney clubs. They pay nothing for stripping the game of juniors. The big clubs are whipping boys under this guise. It wont change until someone is strong enough to make changes. i wont be giving league any credit until this happens. Why should i, i can see the faults. I am not being a smarty pants saying this, it is the future, i can record, go out get tweeted the results, deside if i wish to bother evn watch the recorded game, maybe be excited to go to games because my big city club is such a strong club. Its the future, rugby league needs to understand, they com pete with more than just 1 code and one rusted one-eyed set of future fans. Times are changing, fast. Rugby league has to get into every major city, just to compete.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Install Chrome or Firefox and then install ad block. All websites become so much better.
turbodewd
Guest
Its hard to read that NRL website at times. Its covered in soooo many ads. They must be commended for the extraordinary amount of ads that cram onto that page. Fugly but bearable.
oikee
Guest
:) yes, exactly. Well posted. Their might be hope yet for ruggy league. We need more front foot posters.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
I don't mind the SMH, but the tele is just full of fluff pieces. The NRL website is not too bad for stories.
Adam Vaughan
Roar Pro
I understand what you're saying Oikee, but the Knights themselves were running on an oily rag until Tinks came along. The lack of a leagues club was a big reason for that. And you're right, it is a dog eat dog world. But if rugby league is to prosper despite the competition from other codes, it has to be one big unified dog. I'm not talking about "sharing like good little boys", I'm talking about working together as a sport. Each team can go at it to win a comp as hard as they want, but when it comes to the big picture rugby league has to work together. For a sport that has been as dysfunctional as rugby league has been, thats going to take some time. But it should be the goal everyone is working towards.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Especially considering the state of our hospitals, roads and infrastructure.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
We do have the outlet to trial this, and it's being used in Round 26. The Toyota Cup! Though as it's a competition game that may have a bearing on the makeup of the finals, the ref still gets a call in assigning a review upstairs, which sort of devalues the experiment for mine. All games that have no bearing on the top 8 results in both Toyota Cup and the NRL (which their should be 4-5 of), should be part of the experiment, with the referee having no ability other than acts of foul play, to refer something to the video ref. They just call the game as they see it, and let the coach/captain call them out on it.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
But how much advantage do you get by bringing in juniors. Lets say a club has 10 of the top 25 squad who are juniors, with a 10% discount due to that status. But these 10 players include stars of the club, and thus take up half the salary cap. (Taking the salary cap as $4mil for this example). We see that suddenly this club has 200K extra now to buy another clubs player. That is a big bonus for that club. Just have to be careful how far you go, or ensure that these incentives don't go overboard to ensure that we do have a fairly level playing field as far as talent on the park goes. Big clubs already do things that weaker clubs can't do, like have the best support staff and facilities that make going to those clubs a bigger incentive to improving your game.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Maybe read my last sentance again, your are in fact the problem with the game. What the AFL is doing is irrelevant. We don't need to respond to what they are doing, but in fact do what we do to our very best. If we are doing that, the what the AFL is doing has no impact on us. The commission has been hamstrung due to finances conceived by the previous setup. Once the TV deal is done, and they can work out how to effectively spend whatever amount they get, then you can judge them on results. The fact is that since the commission has come in, bad elements in the game have quieted down, it's only idiots like those at the Tele that want to sensationalise normal events like the meeting of clubs with the commission into stories of doom and gloom that make things an issue. No wonder the NRL commission (and clubs) have been very effective in only spoon feeding the Tele journalists (if you can call them that) what they need to know, and the Tele is just trying to fill space with stories with very little substance to them.
oikee
Guest
Yes, well said. What i really would love to see is someone who reports the good stories, rugby league has plenty of them, and i see Clive Palmer is wanting to start a paper. If he reported only the true good stories about rugby league, he would probably get a half decent folowing., I tend to like grinding out the real issues, real problems, and i also love reading the good things league is doing or has done. Like Preston Campbell. Times are changing, people get sick of the negative, so maybe things might change. I stopped reading alot of the Sydney papers long ago. If i do read them, i quickly form my own opinion and shoot it down on here if it is repeated.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I DO NOT think that the politics are overshadowing the finals one little bit. The talk this year has been moderate and pretty good from most quarters. In regards to much of the nonsense over the tv deal, people can only speculate, and most know of the conflict of interest going on. Really all you have are whingers and prodders in the media trying to whip up a furore, trying to play the NRL on puppet strings. Dont worry about the people who have no clue in day to day life. They talk the media line one day (because they know nothing else); and they are so whimsical in their spurious claims, that by the time the reality comes around, they've forgotten what they once said, and sprout the new line of reality. *** The BEST case of this recently was rothfeild in the dt claiming the new nrl club council was a power-hungry body trying to cause trouble for the ARLC, when in FACT the ARLC was the one who suggested it. *** A second GLARING fact I have noticed, is that in NEWS ltd articles they start with tabloid-like blow-it-up nonsense, but by half way down they are reporting the reality (with a spin) so it fits nicely into their warped view. **** Come a few years time, there will be little place for this kind of reporting, and if you have noticed any overshadowing, you would be hard pressed, because there is plenty of game-news this year, in good spirits. I.e "NRL won't get 1 billion - its dying!" becomes -> "Wow! NRL got 1 billion! What a game!" "NRL is shambles, and its poorly run!" becomes -> "Wow, those guys at the NRL are really stepping things up, its so awesome!" __ Truly the issues being discussed this year are done so in such a way, that is truly progressive and moderate (for the most part), that we have not seen in previous years. Anyone trying to whip up the negativity like whats been done in previous years is quite clearly struggling. news types.
oikee
Guest
Yes it is fair, and this is what is wrong with trying to even out the comp. Why should the Knights not be rewarded for bringing through juniors, massive dollars in sponserships, a Huge stadium, fans, new ideas, thwe list is endless, yet in your world you want a club who is on struggle street who hardly contirbutes apart from trying to run on a oily rag afloat. ? Yes in heaven this is the perfect world, but we are not, its dog eat dog and league is being eaten alive by other codes because some people lets emotions get in the way of running cut throat businesses, If you want a nice evwen Sydney comp then good, lets all share like a pack of good little boys. This is the real world, and in the real world you have your Londons, New Yorks, Sydneys and Paris, then you have the rest, and these cities dont give handouts for these other wannabee';s to catch up, they forge ahead to stay on top. Same could be said of the codes. Do you think soccer is going to hand you charity as well. Adam, i expect more from you mate, start putting in the effort mate. Dont settle for second best. ;)