I’m not totally across it, because it’s rugby league, and it’s November 25, and the third Test of the Summer of Cricket is underway under orange, mauve and blood orange skies in Adelaide, and it’s T-minus 30 days and counting until we’re all as full as Santa’s sack, but…
… But for all 16 chairmen of all 16 clubs in our National Rugby League to tell League Central – the senior business types on the board of the Australian Rugby League Commission – that they have no confidence in the chairman of said board?
It sounds quite bad.
What’s going on? Moneyball, baby. There’s talk of ‘licence agreements’ and ‘sinking funds’ and clubs being paid 130 per cent of a salary cap League Central hasn’t decided the size of yet.
Ever seen that movie The Big Short? It’s like that, but with threats of ‘mutiny’ and ‘breakaway rebel leagues’, and sexy stuff like that.
There was a ‘memorandum of understanding’ and an ‘in-principle agreement’, and the clubs feel these have been reneged upon.
Though in a game in which contracts signed in blood are brushed all the time, well, “the cheque is in the mail” shouldn’t have washed. Probably didn’t.
And here we are. And even for rugby league, it sounds calamitous.
What’s clear is that four of the club chieftains were mad enough to brush a meeting with chairman John Grant and CEO Todd Greenberg, and go to the pub and hatch plans.
And, with their fellow club chieftains, they submitted a vote of no-confidence in the 66-year-old former businessman, league man and civil engineer for Brisbane City Council.
Now, Grant “brings to the ARL Commission a unique blend of business acumen and rugby league experience as well as a respected ability to combine planning and action,” according to the ARL Commission.
Such abilities “were the hallmarks of a playing career that saw the former centre for Souths in the Brisbane Rugby League represent both Queensland and Australia (each on six occasions) and graduate with honours as a Civil Engineer.”
So Grant has that going for him.
And he will need it, just as he needs the backing of NRL CEO Greenberg, who said: “John’s a good man who works hard and always puts the game first. And he’s continued to do that as the chairman, I have absolute faith in that.”
And here, it seems, is the rub. Because while Grant may be thinking of such things as “the greater good”, “the big picture”, “the grassroots”, and so forth, the clubs are thinking, “show me the money”.
Big picture stuff is not their remit. The clubs see themselves – their players, their brands, their storied histories – as the sole power generators of all the money that television people throw at the NRL. And they can make a case. Because they are. Their employees are the actors in the dramas that so entertain us each weekend.
Not the bush. Not juniors. True, that’s where their players come from, but the clubs are a business, and many are battling. And they don’t reckon they’re getting a fair suck of a $1.8 billion souvlaki that they alone create.
Thus they’re butting heads with Grant, because he and his commission do care about the big picture. And they hold the purse strings. And they haven’t worked out how much they can give the clubs yet.
And given Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans, they’re probably right to be cautious how they dish out coin to clubs who have so often pissed it against the wall.
And you could see how that might rub Clubland the wrong way.
And here we are, again.
Wrote a yarn Tuesday about the death of City-Country as a thing, and those few types who decried the league’s decision and wondered why there isn’t more funding for ‘the bush’, well, I’d suggest the answer lies somewhere within this latest imbroglio.
Ho-ho-ho.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Have cry !
Parra
Guest
Why would parra sign this document of no confidence in Grant when the acting chairman is appointed by the nsw govt. shouldn't he stay neutral? Strange considering they have been working closely with the nrl on governance etc. I'm surprised also by wests and Newcastle signing also. Very strange. I think the nrl have done well so far, however the clubs have an agenda to change the constitution in their favour that could Compromise the independent commission's independence, a dark day if it happens. I would show some leadership and refuse to change the constitution and move on with other issues. However the nrl must improve at stakeholder management.
Mitcher
Guest
Primo satire
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Baz Well said
kk
Roar Pro
Linebreaker, VH.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That's correct the Shark's board led by Keogh and Gorman the CEO have steered the financial revival of the club, from doomsday to payday. it is fair to suggest that most NRL clubs have people now on their boards with business nous and expertise :Storm/Broncos/Roosters/Tigers/Warriors/Titans/Bulldogs/Cowboys/Sharks/Manly. Parramatta heading that way.The Knights have people on their board with plenty of business experience. The whole crux of what has happened with Grant.He made a verbal undertaking ATT for 130% of the clubs' salary cap, without knowing what the cap would be, without the CBA being finalised,and obviously not prepared for a drop in club registrations as opposed to participation in general over the elapsed time span. He sowed the seed and now he has reaped the whirlwind. Funding for grassroots is essential that is the future and player payments ditto.Grant(if he is not flicked) has to negotiate a lesser figure but surely more than 100%,to ensure funding is available to boost grassroots numbers and move with the digital side of the code(as they take over from Telstra in 2018). One thing about rugby league there is no shortage of off field stories during the season ,and the off season becomes the big finale, with drama ,intrigue, stupidity to fill the media with content.It's pre ordained I tell you.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
That should strike the fear of God into any one if the clubs want a RL man.... Eels are a great example of how well this works.
correct sometimes
Guest
but phil rothfield didnt like him and that was the end of story
correct sometimes
Guest
well managed? because politis is generous?
correct sometimes
Guest
the broncos are a private club and can pay what they like
correct sometimes
Guest
how are you a judge of their business acumen?
correct sometimes
Guest
raiders - yeah they know what they are doing
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
You sound like one of the goth kids from SouthPark. Touch football is played nationwide and I haven't seen a school that doesn't cover touch in one way or another be it through PE, in-school competition, or inter-school competition. Here's a link from touch football Australia with the TFAs registered numbers plus a comment on school participation. http://touchfootball.com.au/index.php?id=1281 I don't think this is where I got the figures I had though they're the same. Depending on where you look though the number tends to be higher with a lot of competitions holding their own registry with no affiliation with TFA.
The Barry
Roar Guru
What do you mean the NRL covers '50% of their income'? Don't all clubs get the same grant from the NRL? ie the Broncos income is far higher than most clubs but their grant isn't any higher?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cheers. Its also the clubs that generate the money for the NRL. They should certainly have a say in how much they get back. Particularly as it's up to them to pay the players, coaches, trainers and juniors. People like Gorman, Castle, Politis, etc are professional business people not chook raffle coordinators.
bbt
Guest
Spot on!!!!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
When you hear the term "Rugby League man" used as a desirable quality in an administrator what you need to do is mentally transpose it to "patsy with the sense of a lost lamb".
bbt
Guest
Without a definite and secure management, the clubs and players will struggle. Plus - what players? The amateurs who play bush footy every Saturday, the mums who wash the gear, the touchy who also mows the grass, are just as vital to the game as club presidents and star NRL players.
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
I find it strange that the clubs want to replace Grant with a Rugby League man, when that is what he is.... John Grant played Rugby League for Queensland as a centre, and toured England with the Kangaroos in 1972... He is a succesful business man to boot. However, i agree with alot of the comments here. The NRL is about the clubs and players. I want to see the game expand into new areas while consolidating and securing our existing teams.
Gray-Hand
Guest
Population of Australia is 24 million. If 6 million Australians are in school, and 500k of them play touch football, then that is a participation rate of 12%. Across all of the schools in Australia, not just Queensland and New South Wales. No way.