16 NRL figures who hold the future of rugby league in their hands. It’s time for change, writes Phil Rothfield

AT 11am on Wednesday the NRL club chairs will vote for constitutional reform or allow the game to be dragged into a civil war. The time for change is now, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Peter Beattie and Todd Greenberg can be a force for change. (Brett Costello)

These are the 16 NRL figures who hold the fate and future of rugby league in their hands.

At 11am on Wednesday the club chairs will gather at Moore Park headquarters to either unite to vote for constitutional reform or allow the game to be dragged into a civil war.

There is no choice.

Rugby league has been appallingly administrated for too long.

It has no assets, no equity and no money. And unless changes are made … no bloody hope.

If reform goes through, rugby league will enter an era of unprecedented transparency.

The new chairman Peter Beattie will open the doors of the independent commission that John Grant slammed shut six years ago.

CLUB VOTE: D-Day for rugby league

NRL chairs will meet to decide the future of the game.

This was almost a dictatorship that kept the real people in rugby league in the dark. The fans.

Beattie told me that financial records will be made available every three months for proper scrutiny. No more secrets.

If the game’s broke we’ll be told why it’s broke.

If the game needs a $30 million bank loan we’ll know about it.

Under Beattie’s leadership there will be a media briefing after every commission meeting.

For the first time the 16 clubs will become genuine stakeholders as will their fans.

It’s why this AGM at Moore Park headquarters is so important for the future of the game.

Peter Beattie and Todd Greenberg can be a force for change. (Brett Costello)

Grant’s departure is a positive but the entire constitutional reform means more.

Australia’s most dynamic sporting administrator Peter V’landys comes on board.

Grassroots — through the NSWRL and the QRL — get a start too.

And, most crucially, the clubs get a voice.

There no time for the politics and self-interests of two or three officials from out of town clubs who threaten to derail the process.

It’s not about Melbourne Storm. The Warriors or the Cowboys.

It about the whole game — from park footy to the premiership.

As Beattie recently said in this newspaper … the game either moves forward ... or dies.

Originally published as 16 NRL figures who hold the future of rugby league in their hands. It’s time for change, writes Phil Rothfield