The NRL could celebrate its premiership kick-off next week with the long-awaited agreement to establish an independent commission to run the game.
High-level talks in recent days have paved the way for an emergency ARL board meeting to be called next week - probably on Thursday - just 24 hours before the opening of the season.
Senior officials said they were hopeful ARL board members would reach an in-principle agreement for the commission before the parties thrashed out the finer details as the season progresses.
Behind-the-scenes talks involving News Limited deputy CEO and chief operating officer Peter Macourt and senior ARL officials have progressed so far that Carr and ARL chairman Colin Love have called the board meeting.
