Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros fears for NSW country footy’s future if John Grant is ousted by disgruntled NRL clubs.
Betros said he was worried NRL clubs wanted to take control of the game in a return to the “bad old days” after they called for a December 20 emergency meeting to decide the ARL Commission chairman’s fate.
And he believes NSW’s Country Rugby League (CRL) will be the big losers if the clubs achieve their aim.
The QRL boss says the CRL have already lost their voice and fears their days might be numbered after a power play.
“I’d fear for (the CRL’s) future if clubs got control of the commission,” Betros told AAP.
“(The CRL) have no say at all. The NSWRL doesn’t speak on behalf of the CRL.
“(The NSWRL) are controlled by the NRL clubs.
“Whatever the NRL clubs say the NSWRL will do – their structure is very different to the QRL.”
Grant fell out with NRL clubs after reneging on a year-old funding agreement.
He recently withdrew a memorandum of understanding that pledged an extra $100 million a year to clubs from 2018.
Clubs require a minimum 14 votes from the game’s 26 shareholders – the 16 clubs, NSWRL, eight commissioners and the QRL represented by Betros – to remove Grant at the meeting.
Fourteen clubs, excluding the NRL-owned Gold Coast and Newcastle, signed a letter to the ARLC backing the emergency meeting.
Grant has the support of his seven fellow ARLC directors and the QRL.
“There is a perception the clubs are being selfish and want to control the game and where the money is spent,” Betros said.
“Six years ago, the clubs were demanding an independent commission so one group didn’t get favour over another.
“Now after the commission has been doing that they want to take back control – it’s going back to the bad old days.”
Betros said getting rid of Grant would not solve anything.
“I don’t see the point in clubs wanting to get rid of John over a disagreement with commission and NRL policy,” he said.
“John is the leader of our game and everyone had been praising his success over the last five years and all of a sudden they all want to chop his head off – it doesn’t make sense to me.”
In an encouraging sign, the NRL clubs released a statement on Monday night saying they had resumed funding talks with Grant.
Memphis
Guest
So Grant is right that male contact RL participation is falling and the various State leagues are fudging figures to get money??
Mike
Guest
'import whole teams for a season" I think you've gone off the reservation with that one Liam.
Bruce
Guest
Yes we will see if the Sharks have long term success or has he used up all the salary cap on short-term success...
Bruce
Guest
For example - at least they have some money I guess...
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
I agree - this should have been done earlier. But better now then never and the NRL clubs are certainly never going to fund the bush, nor even their own backyards.
Bruce
Guest
Roy Masters in todays herald seems to have shot down Betros although may have raised the whole participation counting process and Qld maths!!! I assume money distribution hangs off numbers hence the "bloating" "Betros must not be concerned about participation in his own state, if the soaring QRL figures in the NRL 2015 annual report are any guide. In 2014, Queensland had 61,828 players in 3974 teams at 455 clubs. In 2015, it was 72,811 players in 3470 teams at 403 clubs. That's quite an achievement. Nearly 11,000 extra players in 500 fewer teams at 50 fewer clubs!"
Sammy
Guest
The structure of the NSWRL needs to change. At present it is controlled by NRL Clubs (or shareholders of NRL Clubs) who already have a direct say in the ARLC. The NSWRL comprises: 1. Balmain 2. Canberra 3. Canterbury-Bankstown 4. Country Rugby League 5. Cronulla-Sutherland 6. Illawarra 7. Junior League Association Inc. 8. Manly-Warringah 9. Newcastle 10. Newtown 11. North Sydney 12. NSWRL Referees Association 13. Parramatta 14. Penrith 15. South Sydney 16. St George 17. Sydney Roosters (Easts) 18. Wentworthville 19. Western Suburbs 20. Windsor The NSWRL is only interested in running feeder competitions in the Sydney Metropolitan Area that directly benefit its members, ie NRL Clubs. 40% of NSW population lives in country areas and would love to see the NSW Cup expanded to include regional towns and also see more money spent developing and promoting Rugby League in country areas. The NRL Clubs should only have "observer status" in the NSWRL, ie non-voting members. Then the NSWRL can be reconstituted with "full membership" granted to the Clubs that participate in the NSW Cup and Ron Massey Cup. The CRL should be given atleast 6 votes in the NSWRL, corresponding to the existing 6 CRL regions, ie 1. North Coast, 2. New England/Hunter, 3. Murrumbidgee/Canberra, 4. Central West, 5. Illawarra/South Coast, 6. Newcastle/Central Coast.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
My concern with Grant is that he was the one who said he would increase the amount of money to the clubs. he then turns around and changes it. He should have thought of country and junior league before he made his statement last year.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I know when I lived there, most teams employed a Sydney player as captain/coach, a little retirement money for the player. Many, including me, played for petrol money and that was it. With less money I can't see how clubs can "import a team".
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'd assume he's interested in the state of the game everywhere. The state of the game in QLD just happens to be his job.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
That's a misleading heading. How would Peter Betros have any idea about NSW Country footy?
Liam D
Guest
What do you mean bush footy in trouble - bush RL is pretty well dead, relies on NZ imports to Captain, coach and provide star players. Clubs down in the Riverina they import whole teams for a season. Probably the same elsewhere.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
The bloke has succeeded in every Admin role he has been put in. Look at what he has done recently with the WSW and the Sharks.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Yeah I have concerns about Quayle. If they need to replace Grant I'd be looking for somebody new.
andrew
Guest
That is why there is a big 'BUT'. Good club administrators would recognise the importance of investing in the country, BUT we have far too few good club administrators. I agree on the "old boys" thing, which is why I don't agree with the contention that John Quayle is the answer. When John Quayle was in charge, the four or five big clubs ran the game and their own self interest. Better administrators in clubs - recognise the need for 16 strong clubs, work together, create stronger governance (i.e increase the minimum requirements to be a Board member at a club), and think more strategically in terms of grass roots and growth of the game.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Gorman would be a massive coup for the ARLC. What a fantastic administrator.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
"I’d be all for the clubs having more power and I think they would look after country rugby league." I'm afraid I don't share your confidence the altruism of the clubs. This is the whole reason the commission was set up in the first place. You are right though, there is still far too much of the "old boys club" running Rugby League with too much self interest. This stems from that old "They need to have played the game to run the game" attitude.
kk
Roar Pro
The concluding sentence deflates the emotive waffle of Peter Betros. Remember his inept presentation of Kevin Walters appointment as Queensland SOO coach. The ARLC needs a Gorman or Gurr at the helm.
andrew
Guest
I'd be all for the clubs having more power and I think they would look after country rugby league. BUT and it is a very big BUT; NRL clubs are not all run by executives with broad vision or the acumen that we should be attracting to those types of role. Additionally they are appointed, often, by Boards, with an equal lack of foresight and vision. The GM/CEO (whatever) should be the highest paid person in the club - then you would be attracting quality people who will make more money for their club, which will mean sending more of that handout money to the bush instead of the NRL.