NRL 2021: Mick Fuller’s ARLC move falls flat after growing dissent

Peter V’landys has vowed to continue his fight to stamp out poor player behaviour despite failing to secure Mick Fuller’s services.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 23, 2020: NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller pictured at a press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

A “dejected” but defiant Peter V’landys has vowed to double down on his crusade to rid the NRL of the “1 per cent” of players who continue to give the game a bad name.

It comes after V’landys sensationally lost his fight to appoint NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to the ARL Commission on legal advice.

That followed a conversation between V’landys and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday where the ARLC chairman was told Fuller could not hold the paid position, regardless of the fact Fuller would donate his $75,000 ARL Commissioner’s salary to Police Legacy.

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The move was met with significant backlash from some who saw it as a potential conflict of interest.

Just one example involves Canberra centre Curtis Scott, who is suing NSW Police over the fallout from his Australia Day arrest last year.

There are many people in rugby league who were dumb-founded when Fuller’s name was first mentioned and believe the Premier’s decision has saved the NRL and Fuller from potential embarrassment.

But V’landys was adamant he did not regret his decision to personally head hunt Fuller for the job, also revealing how player behaviour had recently cost the NRL a sponsorship with Bunnings worth a “massive” amount of money.

Mick Fuller finds out on Monday whether he can take up the role in the game’s commission.

“No, not at all,” V’landys said asked if he had any regrets.

“Not in the slightest, because out of every negative is a positive, and the positive is that we are serious about sending a message that we are going to be tough.

“We are not going to stuff around.

“(Chasing Fuller) highlights that we are going after this one per cent that is giving the other 99 per cent a bad name. And I am not going to stop until it happens. This is just a hurdle.”

V’landys said he understood and respected the NSW Government’s decision.

“Naturally I thought it would have been a big coup for the game,” V’landys said.

“And I have to stress this because it has been misinterpreted in some quarters, but 99 per cent of the players do the right thing.

Peter V'landys faces a real test of his leadership of the NRL.

“However, when you are talking to sponsors and people out in the commercial world that one per cent spoils it for the 99 per cent.”

V’landys then revealed how Bunnings was one such sponsor.

“It was a lot of money,” V’landys said.

“They pulled out because they were concerned about the player behaviour.

“And I have to keep stressing it is one per cent, and I hate it when all the other players are tarnished because of it.”

V’landys would now commence another search to fill the vacant spot.

“We will fill it,” V’landys said.

“I have said in the past that we do a skill matrix of the board and we will fill it on the skills that we need.

“And there are two skills that we need.

“One is marketing in my view and the other is regulatory which is what Mick Fuller would have brought.

“So we have to pick now between which skill we want to put on the board.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Mick Fuller’s ARLC move falls flat after growing dissent