QRL Mutiny

[Coxy]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5895283338

VETERAN Queensland Rugby League administrators Ross Livermore and John McDonald have been asked by angry club officials to leave their posts or risk a boycott of the 2011 statewide competition.

In one of the most dramatic days in QRL history, Wynnum-Manly chairman Rick Green delivered an open letter to Livermore and McDonald at Suncorp Stadium yesterday on behalf of the 12 Intrust Super Cup clubs.

The letter, signed by 21 club chairmen, chief executives and board members, formally requested a restructure of the current leadership. In a worse-case scenario, Green said the clubs would not apply to be part of next year's competition.

He acknowledged the clubs had no constitutional power to overthrow managing director Livermore and chairman McDonald, but believed they had a moral right to seek change.

Livermore has been in the job since 1981 while McDonald, a former Test centre and Queensland's first Origin coach, has been chairman for 19 years. The clubs' dissatisfaction with the QRL leadership stems from what has been perceived as a failure to stand up for state rights at NRL and ARL level, particularly in relation to the national under-20 competition and dual registration.

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The introduction of the NYC (under-20s) in 2008 was seen as a huge blow to the Queensland clubs' ability to nurture their own young talent.

Dual registration has been the saviour of Souths Logan who are affiliated with Canberra, while Sunshine Coast won the state title last year largely because of an influx of talent from Manly-Warringah.

Both arrangements are set to end this year because of pressure from the NSWRL, even though the Queensland clubs believe it is a restraint of trade.

Green said the clubs acknowledged the loyal service given by Livermore and McDonald, but felt they had to make their position clear to bring about change for the better.

"Ross has the letter and says he will get back to me after he goes through the board and works out a response," Green said.

The open letter from the clubs says the call for Livermore and McDonald to stand down was the result of "dissatisfaction and frustration" from being kept in the dark about the leadership's succession plan..

"There also have been numerous issues that have been decided against the best interests of the competition and what the clubs consider to be the best interests of the game in this state," the letter says.

One chief executive told The Courier-Mail the clubs had had enough.

Ironically, by getting rid of McDonald and Livermore, the opposition to the QRL signing to be part of the indepndent commission would be quashed...and in turn, with the NRL clubs each having as much say as the entire state of Queensland, the issues they're upset about (dual rego, u20s) will have no chance of being fought against anyway, if the NSW NRL clubs all want it that way.

 

[Flutterby]

Exactly Coxy. I always though Livermore did a pretty good job of standing up for the rights of Qld Clubs and the Qld Comp. Livermore and McDonald must be doing something pretty right - considering the Q Cup is a pretty bloody good comp, especially when compared to the absolute joke that is the NSW Premier League. Given the impacts on both state competitions of the NRL and U20s comps I say GAME SET AND MATCH to the QRL lead by Livermore and McDonald. But clearly there are issues that have been simmering away under the surface

 

[Nashy]

Pfft. Call their bluff.

I'd like to see these douche bags get an income without fielding a football team.

 

[Flutterby]

Easts would be right - their Leagues Club is F***ing awesome icon_thumbs_u

(Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than their footy team ATM)

 

[Jeba]

Dolphins is better [icon_wink

 

[Flutterby]

Disagree. I used to live at Redcliffe and went there several times, it's not as good as Easts IMO.

Oh and the Best Leagues' Club award won by Easts for the past 3 or 4 years also beg to differ with your opinion turncoat [icon_razz1