NRL 2020: Broncos overlook Ben Ikin for CEO role as Storm boss Dave Donaghy firms in favouritism
The Broncos have gone cold on a popular choice to take on the club’s CEO role, with the field now down to two and one of those candidates the overwhelming choice - if available - to take on the position.
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Former Queensland Origin utility Ben Ikin has been overlooked for the Brisbane CEO post as the Broncos ramp-up their pursuit of Melbourne boss Dave Donaghy.
News Corp can reveal Ikin is officially out of the running for the Broncos chief executive’s role after being personally informed he will not be Paul White’s successor.
Ikin was regarded as a popular choice for the role given his premiership playing career at the Broncos, his rugby league intellect and insights as one of the code’s most respected media voices.
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The 43-year-old was among five people who reached the final interview stage, but the Broncos have opted to go in a different direction.
The Broncos have now whittled down 165 applicants to just two men - Storm chief Donaghy and an unknown contender, believed to be an executive with an ASX Top 50 company.
The Broncos board are conducting reference checks on the two parties but Donaghy is the preferred candidate.
The only problem for the Broncos is the 37-year-old former sports journalist has a non-compete clause in his Storm contract that precludes him joining Brisbane until August next year.
It is understood Donaghy and the Broncos have put formal talks on hold until November when the Storm have completed their finals commitments.
The Broncos’ decision will come as a blow to Ikin, who has experience in the corporate world and was passionate about helping reprise Brisbane’s glory days.
“While I’d love to get the job, more than anything I want to see someone land in the role that can get the Broncos back to their best,” Ikin said last month.
“I don’t expect or want an easy path. I wanted to be tested against other quality candidates and will be in there with a million other dreamers.
“I just want the Broncos to end up with the best candidate.
“I hope that’s me, but if it’s not I hope they get someone that can do a really good job.”
Storm hierarchy are ready to play hardball with the Broncos, with chairman Matt Tripp insisting he will not give Donaghy an early release to slip into White’s hot seat at Red Hill.
“This is not the way I run a business,” Tripp said.
“We will be enforcing our contract with Dave and if the Broncos are up for a legal stoush, then tell them to get ready - I’m all for it.
“I’m not going to sit back and allow the Broncos, who think they are the 500-pound gorilla in every room they walk into, to try and bully the Melbourne Storm by cherrypicking our chief executive.
“Dave can’t speak to them (the Broncos) until January 31, that’s why contracts are there and we will protect our ‘IP’ (Intellectual Property) fiercely from the Broncos.
“When you try and impersonate someone ... impersonators are generally frauds, they are impostors and they get found out.
“Some of our shareholders are worked up over this.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Broncos overlook Ben Ikin for CEO role as Storm boss Dave Donaghy firms in favouritism