NSW racing supremo Peter V’landys has emerged as the odds-on frontrunner to be the next Australian Rugby League Commission chairman after Peter Beattie signalled he will stand down.
Beattie on Wednesday told his fellow commissioners that he would not seek reappointment when his term expires in February next year.
The former Queensland premier has anointed Racing NSW chief executive V’landys as his successor and he appears the clear favourite for the post.
Beattie could remain on the ARLC as a commissioner and appears to have support to do so.
It’s believed Beattie’s decision to stand down is linked with his determination to push through constitutional reform as the commission seeks a replacement for Mark Coyne.
Beattie is seeking to scrap the rule which prevents any person from being elected to the ARLC if they have been involved with an NRL club in the past three years.
Beattie previously labelled the rule “nuts” because it prevented candidates such as former Knights official John Quayle, Broncos board member Darren Lockyer, Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell, Souths’ Nick Pappas and North Queensland’s Laurence Lancini from being considered.
It’s understood Beattie believes the decision will make him unpopular and has told the commission the game needs a fresh start.
Beattie has been a highly-controversial figure in the game since being elected to the independent commission in September 2015 and taking over as chairman in February last year.
While he was widely criticised for a series of gaffes, he has also overseen important reform such as the implementation of the “no fault” stand down rule.
V’landys, who was elected to the independent commission earlier in the year, this week said that if he took on the job, he would be capable of staying on as Racing NSW CEO.
He has been credited with revitalising racing in the state and was the brains trust behind the introduction of The Everest, the world’s richest turf race.
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