North Queensland chairman Laurence Lancini to call it quits
North Queensland chairman Laurence Lancini has given the Cowboys an end-of-season shock, with the 60-year-old property tycoon ready to walk away from the club. PLUS, Big Mal’s shopping list.
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Cowboys supremo Laurence Lancini has dropped a bombshell on North Queensland with the veteran chairman to walk away from the club after 20 years of service.
Blindside can reveal Lancini will officially sever ties with the club next March when the Cowboys celebrate the opening of their $250 million, state-of-the-art North Queensland Stadium in round one of the 2020 NRL season.
The impending departure of Lancini is a crushing blow for the Cowboys and rugby league. The 60-year-old property tycoon is one of Queensland’s most powerful businessmen and played a critical role in keeping the Cowboys alive when he joined the club board in 2000.
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Lancini, whose personal wealth is estimated at more than $160 million, took one look at the club’s financials. The Cowboys were insolvent and just days away from closing the doors when Lancini put together a plan to keep the club afloat.
With the early help of News Limited, publisher of The Courier-Mail, and Lancini, who stepped into the chairman’s post in 2003, North Queensland have become a powerhouse, winning their maiden NRL title in 2015.
Lancini declined to comment when contacted but he is in the final six months of his chairmanship. Lancini believes the Cowboys are now in great shape, with a new stadium and robust leagues club, and has told insiders he feels the time is right to scale back his work life as he ponders semi-retirement.
Earlier this year, Lancini was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for services to rugby league and the North Queensland community.
In an interview two years ago on the eve of the Cowboys’ fairytale 2017 grand-final appearance against Melbourne, Lancini revealed how close the Cowboys were to going broke.
“The place was a disaster. It was a basket-case. The debts were ridiculous,” Lancini said.
“When News Limited (then part-owner) wanted to offload the Cowboys, they wanted to put a group of high-wealth individuals together to buy it.
“I said that was the wrong formula for Townsville. It is a grassroots area. It is a working-class community. Our fans would disengage with suits in boxes owning the club. It is a great model.
“We have some great people involved who run the club. They have a real humble approach to the way they run the business.”
Lancini may be a multi-millionaire but his feel for the common man from his days as a bricklayer will be why is he sorely missed by the Cowboys.
BIG MAL’S SHOPPING LIST
TITANS culture chief Mal Meninga has drawn up a hit list of nine NRL stars he is keen to bring to the Gold Coast for a club revival beyond 2020.
In a letter to Titans members, Meninga declared the Titans are “ready to go shopping” with Broncos forward Tom Flegler joining No.1 target David Fifita on his Christmas recruitment hit list.
Other names mentioned by Meninga were Canberra fullback sensation Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Bulldogs duo Josh Jackson and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Cowboys pair Kyle Feldt and Jordan McLean.
Meninga is also casting his eye at Melbourne, with Maroons back-rower Felise Kaufusi and attacking dynamo Ryan Papenhuyzen on the Titans’ recruitment radar.
The Gold Coast will struggle to find the funds to attract all nine players but even if the club can secure two or three top-liners, it would be a step forward for the embattled Titans.
“We would be keen to have a chat with all of them,” Meninga said.
“To give you an idea of where the Titans are at, we have 14 players — including Jai Arrow and AJ Brimson — coming off-contract at the end of 2020.
“Will all 14 of those players be at the Titans in 2021? Realistically, the answer is no.
“But that means we will have the money and roster places available to chase players that we want to be here.
“It is a buyer’s market, and we are keen to go shopping.”
BOMBERS HOLD FIRE
BRISBANE Bombers major shareholder Nick Livermore isn’t getting carried away with suggestions Channel 9 is putting pressure on the NRL to include another team in south-east Queensland in 2023.
As revealed on Thursday, five rich Queensland businessmen have held secret talks about bidding for an NRL licence and possibly joining forces with the Bombers to form a super bid to become Brisbane’s second team.
But Livermore is remaining cautious. After all, the Bombers had their fingers burnt before when the ARL Commission indicated they were set to receive the green light for the 2018 season.
However, when struggling Sydney clubs blew up about funding levels, the NRL increased their grants to the existing 16 NRL teams, scuppering plans to expand to an 18-team competition.
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The Bombers have spent around $2 million on their expansion bid and they won’t spend a cent more until the governing body formally seeks tenders for an NRL licence.
“The networks indicated in 2011 and in 2015 that they have wanted a second Brisbane team,” Livermore said. “Our bid has been in operation since 2009 and we’ve maintained that the market is ready and has been crying out for a rugby league match in Suncorp Stadium every weekend.
“While Channel 9’s enthusiasm is encouraging, the ultimate decision will come down to the ARL Commission and the support from the existing 16 NRL clubs, who will all be vying for their own long-term survival before they look to the interests of growing the game in Brisbane.
“Until the NRL commits to expansion and decide that Brisbane is their preferred choice and it’s a new team as opposed to a rebranded relocation, we’re in a holding pattern before the Bombers can look to take off.”
KAHU TO QUIT COWS
NEW Zealand test utility Jordan Kahu has stunned the Cowboys by rejecting an offer to remain at North Queensland next season.
Blindside can reveal Kahu will play his final game for the Cowboys — and possibly his last-ever NRL match — in Friday’s clash with the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
Kahu has been a handy addition to the Cowboys roster since his arrival from the Broncos in February.
The 28-year-old, who has battled injuries throughout his career, has played 18 games this season and produced some fine performances. Just last week, he landed the match-winning field goal to sink the Bulldogs in Townsville.
Interestingly, Kahu has done something few NRL players do — knocking back a contract offer.
The Cowboys were keen to retain Kahu and tabled what they believed to be a solid contract offer, but the 113-game utility back said thanks, but no thanks.
Kahu played rugby union growing up in New Zealand and is said to be considering a return to the 15-a-side code after previously spurning interest from Kiwi Super Rugby franchises.
Should tonight be his NRL swan song, Kahu can reflect on a successful rugby league career where he played for his country and was a member of the Broncos’ 2015 grand final team, which ironically lost to the Cowboys.
STAGGS’ GOOD DEED
NRL clubs often whinge that the media don’t report on positive stories so here’s genuine praise for Broncos rookie Kotoni Staggs.
A Broncos fan named Marcus personally emailed Brisbane chief executive Paul White last week to commend Staggs for going out of his way to set-up a meeting with the supporter’s son at their recent Souths clash at Suncorp Stadium.
“Several weeks ago I attended the Broncos’ charity dinner and seated on our table was Kotoni Staggs,” Marcus wrote.
“Unprompted, Kotoni offered to meet my son and (his mates) after the Souths game.
“I did not expect him to remember or follow through on the offer. However, on the Thursday before the game he reached out to me and said he had organised for the boys to meet him and a few other players after the game.
“True to his word, and despite the tight loss, he met with the boys and had a quick chat, signed their gear and posed for some photos along with some of the other players.
“If only you could bottle the sheer joy and excitement of those boys.
“That’s what makes the Broncos the club it is. Unfortunately there will always be plenty said about the small minority of players doing the wrong thing and not enough said about someone like Kotoni Staggs.”
SHORT BITES
THERE have been whispers that NRL rivals are eyeing off Jamayne Isaako. The Broncos winger has been in sizzling form of late and there is speculation rival clubs are keen to poach the Kiwi Test utility with the lure of playing fullback. That is Isaako’s preferred position. But the flashy Isaako is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2022 and his management insists “The Iceman” is going nowhere.
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QUEENSLAND Origin ironman Jai Arrow is seriously weighing up the prospect of leaving the Titans. Arrow isn’t just testing his value to drive up his asking price. The Maroons forward has told close friends being part of a successful club that can win premierships will come before money. The ball is in the Titans’ court. They must convince Arrow the Coast will soon be a finals force or risk losing him to a successful Sydney club.
SACKED Titans coach Garth Brennan has finalised his payout with the Gold Coast two months after his departure. Blindside understands Brennan received around $200,000, related to a 12-month upgrade for the 2020 season which was ratified by Titans hierarchy last December. Brennan was initially left devastated by his termination but has found some perspective following a recent family trip to New Zealand.
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THE battle for the Broncos’ No.9 jumper is about to heat up. Andrew McCullough, James Segeyaro and Jake Turpinare Brisbane’s three hookers this season but there is a fourth contender looming on the horizon in young gun Cory Paix. The Cooper Cronk-lookalike has been a teenage star in the halfback position and he has worn the No.7 jumper for Redcliffe this season. But the Broncos will convert him into a hooker at NRL level and believe he has the type of speed that makes Souths’ Damien Cook so lethal.
MORE NEWS
Meninga: Why we need to protect the Titans
Expansion expert says Sydney club needs to leave
RISING
JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Great to see the Broncos winger bounce back to form after the sad news his father is battling terminal cancer. His extra-time field goal to sink the Eels was superb. The Iceman is back.
CAMERON MURRAY: Does anyone punch above their weight in the NRL better than Murray? Scored two superb tries against the Warriors and can be Souths’ X-factor in the finals.
MICHAEL MORGAN: Nice to see Morgan rediscovering his running game in last week’s defeat of the Bulldogs. It’s been a tough year for the Cowboys skipper but he showed touches of class to sink the Dogs.
JUSTIN OLAM: The Papua New Guinea international has been a centre wrecking ball for the Storm. Olam only knows one way and when he hits top speed, he is a ferocious sight out wide.
FALLING
KALLUM WATKINS: The Titans centre produced two shocking defensive misses which led to Newcastle tries. If he continues to defend like that, the former England star’s stint in the NRL won’t be very long.
PAUL McGREGOR: The Dragons coach is the next NRL mentor in the firing line after St George Illawarra’s dismal season. This week’s clash against the Titans could be his final game in charge.
TOM TRBOJEVIC: The crushing news his season is over has major ramifications for Manly’s premiership charge. The Sea Eagles will sorely miss his match-winning brilliance.
PAUL GALLEN: Time is running out for the Sharks hardman. Love him or hate him, Gallen is the ultimate warrior who has shown remarkable toughness to play NRL at age 38.
Panthers slammed over ‘pathetic’ move
The Penrith Panthers are the all-conquering NRL champions but the club has abandoned their bid to claim the one trophy that’s eluded them.
Panthers celebrations switch from party to formal mode
Penrith Panthers players have ditched their sunglasses and shorts for suits and ties as the premiership party switches to formal mode for their end-of-season presentation night. SEE THE PHOTOS.