Nashy said:First point of business should be new refs. **** worst season this year because of those wankers.
THE drafting of the document detailing the constitution of league's independent commission is almost complete, with the News Limited and ARL members of the NRL's partnership committee set to receive copies within days.
Presuming the committee agrees with the wording of the constitution, which is being drawn up by an independent law firm, copies will be forwarded to other major stake-holders - most notably the 16 clubs - to seek their support as well.
The wording of the constitution has been a delicate process all along, but most recently because of debate over how the word independent will be defined. The Queensland Rugby League side of the ARL is likely to support the constitution only if it is clear that anyone who has held an official position with the ARL, NSWRL, QRL, CRL, News Ltd or any club in the past three years is ineligible to be a commission member.
That would rule out Colin Love, the ARL chairman who is from the NSWRL side. Love has been tipped to be on the first commission, as a nod to a perceived need for someone with established league management experience to be included to help kick things off.
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said the complicated nature of the document meant it could not be rushed.
agreed - yes, some calls have been 100% correct by the rule book, but are not correct in the way rugby league is actually played......but there have also been many, many, blatantly wrong calls that are just a result of bad refereeing.john1420 said:Hey Coxy,
I agree with everything you say here, except the 'incorrect' bit :)
You are right that the ref's are doing what Finch says, and all of those things you mention do need fixing
But, it's also true that the ref's have made some awful, awful calls this year
More meetings as commission deadline looks increasingly unachievable
Glenn Jackson
October 19, 2010
TWO meetings this week, one in the office of a Sydney accountant and the other at the Phillip Street headquarters of the NSW Rugby League, are likely to have a ''landmark'' impact on whether an independent commission is in place by November 1.
With 12 days remaining until November 1 - the date planned for the handover of the game to an independent commission - a draft of the constitution document, drawn up by independent law firm Kemp Strang, is in the hands of the ARL, the NSWRL, Queensland Rugby League, the game's co-owners News Limited and the commission's architect, Michael Searle, representing the 16 NRL clubs.
Searle, who is having lawyers review the document after receiving it yesterday, will tomorrow meet his restructure committee, which will notify the ARL of its position at the scheduled board meeting on Thursday at the NSW Leagues Club.
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The 16 club chairmen will tomorrow meet at the office of a Sydney accountant to discuss the commission, the progress of which seems to have stalled in recent weeks. The chairmen have invited ARL chairman Colin Love to brief them on commission developments.
One chairman yesterday described the process as a ''farce'', and said it was ''unrealistic'' to suggest the commission would be in place by November 1. He said that with key decisions and negotiations surrounding television rights deals originally planned to be done under the new ownership structure, ''we're just wallowing''.
''The ARL … have an opportunity to deliver a lasting solution to the benefit of everyone in the game,'' the chairman said. ''They have an opportunity to be remembered very fondly in the history of the game. Alternatively, they have the opportunity to be remembered not so fondly.''
But Searle maintains hope. The wording of the draft constitution is likely to decide whether or not it is implemented quickly. If there is significant disagreement over any aspect of the document, the push towards independent ownership of the game will stall again.
The ARL meeting, therefore, could be a momentous meeting at which the push towards a commission gathers unstoppable momentum, or it could signal another setback.
The clubs ''have had enough'', according to one insider.
The QRL is also in possession of the draft, and its board will meet today. Chairman John McDonald said: ''There's been good progress. We're still in the process of going through it [the draft]. We'll have further discussions [today].''
The QRL side of the ARL is likely to support the constitution only if it is clear that anyone who has held an official position with the ARL, NSWRL, QRL, Country Rugby League, News Ltd or any club in the past three years is ineligible to be a commission member.
That would rule out Love, the ARL chairman who is from the NSWRL side. Love has been tipped to be on the first commission, as a nod to a perceived need for someone with established league management experience to be included to help kick things off.
But it is understood the draft document does not deal specifically with the sanctity of the commissioners. The commissioners will be decided well after November 1 - presuming the commission itself is even in place by then.
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said: ''At the moment, it's progressing quite well.''
RUGBY league's long-awaited independent commission has moved a step closer to reality with the Australian Rugby League board agreeing on a constitution to send to NRL partner News Ltd within 24 hours.
The Queensland and NSW representatives on the ARL have agreed to a number of changes to an earlier draft and believe there remains "significant progress" towards the establishment of a single commission to oversee rugby league.
In a statement released today, the ARL said:
"The commission model remains one that assures the independence of future commissioners.
"Subject to agreement by News Ltd, the draft constitution will then be circulated among the committee representing the NRL clubs, with a view to establishing the commission as soon as practical."
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said: "This whole exercise is a major undertaking and one that will benefit the future governance of the game.
"Everyone has been working towards a November 1 outcome, which may or may not prove achievable in terms of having everything established.
"Certainly there is a very real possibility the constitution can be finalised by that date and there can be no doubt that all parties are working in the right spirit to make things happen as soon as we can.
"It is, however, a very complicated process and the importance of getting it right when we are talking about some of the biggest changes in the game's history has to be the primary factor."
RUGBY league's much-heralded Independent Commission could collapse spectacularly today amid fears that key figures are ignoring quality candidates to hand-pick their mates.
The Daily Telegraph was told last night that News Limited is primed for a hostile meeting with ARL figures and representatives from international recruitment agency Spencer Stuart over the make-up of the game's commission.
Ironically, it was today - April 1 - 16 years ago that the ARL and News Limited went to war over Super League.
A list of 30 candidates will be formally revealed today by Spencer Stuart, with News Limited and the ARL to vote on the merits of each person.
News Limited officials privately fear the ARL will try to "sneak in their mates" ahead of more qualified candidates.
One source close to News Limited said last night: "If anyone plays silly buggers, the whole thing could collapse.
"It [hand-picking mates] isn't going to happen. The whole idea is to have a quality, independent commission - not to bring in your mates.
"It's been indicated to News that the ARL could push for their mates at the meeting.
"If the ARL say it is their way or no way, then News Limited will say no way.
"I have been told News will then reassess the alternatives of the commission."
Aside from Spencer Stuart representatives, the committee to discuss the eight-member commission will comprise ARL chairman John Chalk, News Limited chief operating officer Peter Macourt, QRL director Terry Mackenroth and Rabbitohs boss Nick Pappas, who is seen as independent.
There were suggestions the ARL faction could push for former ARL chief executive John Quayle to be a commissioner. But News Limited feels Quayle's appointment would be a "backward step".The Daily Telegraph could not contact Chalk last night to ask whether he anticipated any drama today.
Coxy said:Nashy said:First point of business should be new refs. **** worst season this year because of those wankers.
Incorrect. The refs have been ruling as per their direction from coach Finch.
Coxy said:Yes. Nashy's bitching was last year. That's how long this **** Independent commission shit has been dragged out.