Richardson ready to rip in at the NRL

Finally someone speaks the truth!

Actually like the elephant,i have a very long memory re the Shark's financials.The financial position of the League's licensed club has been tenuous and at times near to closing the doors on a number of occasions. I remember driving around the area with a Save the Sharks sticker emblazoned on my car's rear window,and fans on street corners with tins asking for money. This all happened prior to the arrival of Lang and Richardson who arrived in 1994 ,who were brought to the club by Peter Gow. ATT and certainly prior Leagues clubs and the 'Sharks in particular gave a fair swag of their monies to the football club in the form of grants.Money in reality which for years the club did not really have in plentiful supply to provide . Management of the licensed club has to take the lion's share in the club's history for its financial predicament. As an example dismissing and having to pay out Chris Anderson mid stream,Stuart Raper.The list of high profile coaches appointed prior were hardly cheap bargains,Jack Gibson,Beetson,Fearnley et al. The addition of a bigger a higher poker machine tax also had its impact,as did RBT for drivers for a club where a car was needed to reach. In fact if the Sharks had not gone to SL they would not have been around now.The money provided then acted as a buffer.I attended the meeting when the club decided to go to SL.The fact the club is still around,unmerged, is testament to its resilience and I dare suggest its former decision. . To suggest Richardson put the club into the financial position they were in, when he left is ludicrous,they had been on life support for many years prior.Yes CEOs are involved in buying players and buy expensive duds at times,but I can give you a virtual army of dud players the club purchased for decades. The proof is in the pudding now,it is a development on the club site residential/retail that is saving the club,not grant money from poker machines to underpin the football club.

People have short memories with Shane Richardson. He left Cronulla in a terrible financial position, so much so that a $22 million handout from Murdoch couldn't save it. Over to England Richo went and less than a year later Gateshead Thunder had lost nearly a million dollars and had to merge. Then his stint at Hull ended when he sold the club's home ground of 120-plus years to pay the massive debt he helped incur. Over to the Panthers and the suspicion of cheating the salary cap with Panthers on the Prowl and a developer named Zivanovic. On to Souths in 2004. Two years later the football club had to sell itself to pay bills. Liabilities reached $11 million. And the football club stripped the leagues club's assets to pay its own bills. The leagues club died and the development that Richardson spruiked went bankrupt owing $43 million. Richo got hit in the backside twice with lightning but he has left a trail of financial destruction wherever he has been.

Exactly as I predicted,as sure as night follows day,Bec Wilson has a full page story today, attacking the appointment of another high paid official(Richardson) by David Smith. Same old themes,same old lame arguments.Not securing the story leaks now,by a prior partially News owned NRL,has sure left a bitter taste in her mouth.She just happens to be a close friend of Gallop's,no agendas of course. Don't spend your hard earned as I foolishly did buying the rag,just accept that nothing has changed in her thinking ,nor the D.T's for that matter.

In regards to the actual expansion itself, we must remember that the NRL is a much bigger show than it was in the 90s in terms of its ability to utilize resources. Take Perth for example. It won't be a matter of just rolling into town (like perhaps brisbane Two will be) and have success come largely automatically. It will need support. But the game has this these days I believe. Putting the monetary aspects aside for one moment. There's no shortage of examples. Look at AFL - look at Apple IOS and Google and Microsoft operating system rollouts, look at Tizen (failing), look at any of the phones and the support systems for developers, ect. Its no different ultimately. I think Perth could expect around 10-15,000 fans to attend on a weekly basis. The thing is - you need to 'exist' and splash around with effect in the market and not just be a presence. So with any "rollout" (haha, right) of a team to Perth I would put in place all the supporting things to make Perth just like the situation in Brisbane would be. That means: have junior football and touch football accessible, and be able to easily direct people where they can go to take part, without over funding it. On the year of entry I would make a big thing about playing an International match there in Perth. I would make sure to get spots on tv and radio spruiking the game. I would make sure to form links with existing peoples/businesses/media in the city. I would set up a rugby league academy to help fast track local players, I would set up things like getting more local coaches and refs into the sport. Basically just to sink the tentacles into the city and give them a real, meaningful option in sport when it comes to rugby league. I would try and get more rugby league fields in the city. So one day when these things have a need, the tools are there to service those needs. You could do various initiatives - think of it like a several year long house warming party. __ The thing about RL is its a welcomed sport, unlike the AFL going into west sydney for instance. The trouble is RL never had the finances (which leads to being able to implement things like this), while on the other hand it would seem AFL never had the welcome. But it makes it work. Its not just a matter of plonking a team there. What I'd like to know is how much work exactly will be required. __ In regards to brisbane Two, I'd like to see all current bids disbanded and reformed. Preferably as just one or two bids. I'd like to have the NRL have a say in putting in place independent boards on the new teams. I'd also like the NRL to have a greater degree of (at arms reach, no meddling) control over the new teams, at least for the time being. There would be a number of conditions. __ Other points - with the pathways review, the states are now closer to the NRL, one day they will form a seamless transition to the NRL. In years to come the state based comps will have a super bowl type game on NRL grand final day. Its going to be kind of like the old reserve grade ultimately, while being a higher grade competition in of itself. Im thinking a quasi 2nd division. _______ 2015 will be an interesting year, and I also think this new wrestle rule will keep the football top notch, and improve it in areas. What I would like to see in the sport actually to counteract the one out ruck fear some have, is allowing markers to stand side by side.

Hi Charles, I tend to think of it as two things - 1 the nrl competition, and 2 rugby league itself. I'd put it to you that they already have a blueprint they are carrying out. Its probably in the form of a set of goals - the NRL clearly knows where it wants to be, and they have the knowledge, experience and will to get there. However, these are the things they need to find out for certain. So if you look at the work the NRL has done in the past couple of years, you see that they are moving towards the goals behind the sentiment you expressed: with the pathways review and the competitions structure review for example; not to mention the expansion review being conducted this year. And many other fact-finding and 'lets investigate' initiatives. These while not results, are the first steps into getting it right. What throws people off is the actual NRL competition and focus. We must look at the NRL as the "arrow head", and everything else as the shaft of the spear. The arrow head comes first and is the most potent section of the spear. You must polish the arrow head. Its the lead act. So the head of the arrow has received much attention: eg salary cap, grants, the bargaining agreement with players, club structures, professionalism, accountability and best practice, player welfare, not to mention countless hours of many people working on it, in offices and out at clubs, in the papers, ect. But that does not mean other things are not being accounted for. My thoughts on expansion therefore is its going to happen. It just may not be a clean break. Explaining, but by no means am I a complete expert on this: Yes, one needs to make the figures balance but on the other hand you need to be on the ground. Making figures balance is living in the past - you adjust for your future statement while acting in the present but you are not expanding. In business you may well take on debt to expand your facilities, build new factories to produce a new good, and use the greater profits to pay off the debts you incurred - its no different to getting into the housing market, ect and buying bigger, better homes as time goes on. But in the sport now we must plan for the future too. So putting down new clubs is something that we should make allowances for. A main goal of the NRL competition (separate from a main goal of rugby league itself - must not forget) is to be national at the top level. So what about the current clubs? Well with the momentum of the sport and the tv deal, and peoples attachment to such clubs, well....who can say on the best method - the choice will be made at any "cross-roads" that appear - insolvency, ect.....and IF those crossroads appear at the right/wrong times. These things are hard to plan. But by no means can we expect a competition to be perfect. Thats just conflating idealism with desire when the reality will be near enough is good enough - because sport is also about passion and history. The above is something I think the NRL are doing. If you are looking for more analogies then I think the NRL is currently saving the deposit for at least one brand new team. They won't want to just put in the no-brainer 2nd brisbane team and be accused of taking the safe option that doesn't enhance the footprint geographically, nor do they wish for odd teams, so its been reasoned (minus figures) that a 2nd Perth team would come in as well, or a 2nd NZ team. Where this leaves the current batch of sydney teams is anyones guess but so explained above. ___ In regards to the other points, if you have a strong head then you have more of a chance of making a strong body. We must realize that the game is more popular than ever, and numbers are up almost everywhere. No other such club exists. We already have state comps, and juniors growing. We need to give international football more credence: meaning we must embrace it - because right now we are not able to/want to (though 4 nations is growing in esteem) see it for its true value. Its a priorities dynamic as well. But you'd expect that given the history of internationals in the past 50 years. Thats changing. We create true international competition by doing something we have failed to do in the past - by actively developing and supporting new nations. Over 40 nations play the sport - they could use grants and help, expertise. So we need a system that can deliver that. As it stands, just recently we have seen the NRL cast its gaze there since this year onwards and before 2017 tv deal, they probably will have more time to devote to outward measures as theyve been looking inward a lot - and for good reason. Also, the NRL want shrewdly to have all the plates they are spinning at their peaks come the new tv deal. Its not a money grab, this is for the sport -- the money is merely a conclusion, and the sport is the story.. .. they want to make the best story possible. __ Do you not think the past 3 years have seen the sport advance at a fast rate? I think they have, I see it like an iceberg- only the top 1/3rd is visible.

I am not sure what your thoughts are in regards to expansion which has been a subject that has drawn plenty of attention over the years. The problem with that and many other ideas is that it is not thought through deep enough. How many clubs do we need to create a true national competition and who are they? What happens when other clubs that have more customers and money wants to get involved. Do we create a state competition and if not how do the juniors grow in each state. How do we create a true international competetion. When they have a proper blue print in place to cover all the issues then we may see Rugby League go forward and at a fast rate if it happens.

Some people such as myself have stuck their neck out and explained how the game could go better in various areas. Often people ridicule such efforts; but I find its as much to do with their own (non insult) lack of imagination in this regard. They just can't see it. Well some people can. Richardson and my own ideas/philosophy actually match. Guys like crosscoder, sleiman, and epiquin also are of the same mould in many instances. Where I may differ to some, but not to those mentioned perhaps is I can articulate my thoughts well enough and lay it out, sometimes to the point of "thats too narrow a thing to write, what about the rest". These are pieces of a puzzle. Some people you can't see the end game, and some people you can't see how they arrive at the end result they have in mind with such a thin-looking start. If you wax lyrical about something people like to see how you arrive at your waxing. The trouble is, and maybe Richardson has faced this too, is that certain people do not believe you. Not self aggrandising here - there's a point. When I said we'd have a new stadia for western sydney and better transport - people scoffed...yet its in the works. Thats just one example. So how could I come up with such a thing several years before hand and say "this will happen." I alter my thinking, and change things from "RL is just a tired sport suffering, languishin" to "RL is a sport of great value and importance, of such that it could actually be important enough to the community to warrant such a thing". Then I seek facts and cases where the goals of the two can match up. If we say, our game can have a greater international presence. That is possible. You know why - because we already have an international presence, and the sport is palletable and growing. What I don't have space for often is the step by steps. Though I kid you not, I had mapped out in 2006 the steps the game would need to make to get to the point we are at today (and in such a plan I conceded we'd be slipping somewhat owing to the massive amount of ground to make up); I didn't make those plans in a bubble - they were made with a fully working and realised sporting world. The thing is, all my steps, from commission, to clubs financials, to membership and attendance culture, to improved stadia, removal of news ltd interests, junior football, origin, internationals, and which things to tackle first.... I had that mapped out. Guess what - Im but one person --- I salivate at the thought that here we are today and OTHER people also had these visions of a better future -- but I also am itching to see what Richardson can do for the sport. And not just him, but the whole NRL admin team. Too often we place too much emphasis on our very good CEO - but the guy can't do every single thing (which some segments of the media expect)....so its with great anticipation that I wait to see what comes of the sport in years to come. I still enjoy the sport as much as I always have. The thing is, all my steps weren't just to repair the wrongs and make the game better managed/run.....they were to get to the point where we can increase the footprint of the sport worldwide and nation wide. Its not so much meglomania as it is carving a space out for oneself. My steps were bottom-up, but at the same time I honestly believe you need to learn and grow from the top down; and such a philosophy is encapsulating the bottom-up approach. People bemoan the NRL-centric nature of the sport. But guess what - its your arrow head. You lead with that, and sweep up along the bottom, and join the in the center at a much higher point when combined. The sport has to be NRL centric - it allows the rest. But the balance of the two - top down and bottom up have been met i do believe. Its taken many long days at work for the NRL, and great thinkers, to bring us to this point. These things mean we can keep our stars, take in more juniors, and ultimately make a great sporting community. And I still enjoy the game as much as ever.

Interesting and he may just be the one that makes Rugby League all the better from his input!

As long as he remembers that Crowe/Packer isn't signing his cheques anymore.

Jay C - I think that he was Qld originally or at least I know he spent a lot of time up here. But do not let your bias opinions get in the road of a good debate. Qldérs are famous for the poor old me syndrome. We can thank fellow Qldér and commission chairman for getting rid of David Gallop. Real good move wasn't it. Look how soccer is gaining more and more momentum each year.

Isn't he a Queenslander?

If he's international minded then he could be from Tatooine for all I care. Here is an earlier article from last year I wrote about Richardson's ideas: http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/10/13/rugby-league-grows-internationally-but-no-one-says-a-word/

Well if there was one thing missing from head office it was another ex Sydney CEO.

Well said Crosscoder. No doubt the usual suspects at the Telegraph will find something negative about it.

The back page of the SMH gave a list of things that would appear in his brief and I remember thinking "Yep. That should keep us all talking on The Roar for a while..."

Richo might be physically larger than life,but he has his head well and truly screwed on. During his tenure as CEO of the Sharks( aided and abetted by the then coach Johnny Lang),the Sharks had one of their rare halycon periods. The guy is passionate about the game from grassroots to the international level,even to the extent of losing his house as a result of that passion( and thus has made the odd mistake).He is certainly pro expansion of the NRL which is also a plus. Finally an astute decision by Smith to secure the services of a rl experienced official,who thinks outside the square and is not afraid to tread on toes in so doing. The code is finally getting officials on board at club and admin level,who are professional and code committed and most importantly have the ability.Gorman,,Richardson now Lee .It augurs well for the future of the game,after years of marking time,and not projecting itself the way any professional code should,by aggressive promotion and proper underpinning of the grassroots base(neglected at times) and paying lip service to the International aspect. Await now with great anticipation to read Rebecca Wilson's reaction to this appointment,especially as she has used pages of vitriol bemoaning the NRL's admin lack of rugby league experience.Clock is ticking.............Perhaps the storyline heading will read "Jobs for the boys."