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If rugby league has to be dragged kicking and screaming into the professional era, it’s clear Dave Smith is the man for the job.
He might’ve made many public gaffes, like not knowing Cameron Smith from an ironing board, or mistakenly calling Ben Barba ‘Benji’ (the horror), but if Smith ensures the code doesn’t take its billion dollar television windfall and throw it down the nearest drain, his tenure will have been a success.
Yesterday, Smith confirmed what every rugby league fan already knew.
He’s not Andrew Demetriou and never will be. He isn’t the living breathing representation of ‘our great game’, but thankfully he doesn’t have to be.
He is, first and foremost, an excellent businessman. The fact he has a growing passion for the game is a bonus.
Smith made it clear the management shake-up at Rugby League Central was his idea and his alone. A crystal clear message he doesn’t want to be seen as the ARL Commission’s puppet.
The move to appoint Bulldogs Chief Executive Todd Greenberg as the Head of Football could be seen as a humbling act.
It could be taken as a glaring sign Smith is struggling with the ‘football’ side of sports administration.
Instead, it should be viewed as a strong act of leadership.
He identified a weakness and, with the best interests of the game at heart, filled it with the best possible candidate.
If Smith was watching his own back, Greenberg would’ve been nowhere near head office.
The man who rebuilt the NRL’s problem child is one of the most talented chief executives in rugby league and was so highly thought of he was being chased by other sports as well.
His ascension to head office shouldn’t be taken as step one in a plan to inwardly assault Smith’s throne.
Instead, it should be seen as the day rugby league took one giant leap towards a responsible and accountable management structure.
Smith was asked whether the CEO’s job was too big for one man. He said no, but under the current structure change was necessary.
The former banker has created seven new business units:
– Football
– Finance
– Operations
– Corporate Affairs and Community
– Marketing and digital content
– Commercial
– Strategy and Investment
Accountability is important in any walk of life, but even more so in a sport where everyone from Smith down to the lady who runs the canteen at the local ground is invested in the wellbeing of the game.
It might’ve taken Smith three months to fire his first meaningful shot but, as he said, the changes represent what he’s about.
Yesterday, we got far more than music and jumping castles.
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