Legal dispute between NRL and referees to cost $200,000 that could go to grassroots

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys claim that the NRL’s dispute with match officials could cost up to $200,000 in legal fees has left cash-strapped country footy clubs irate.

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Bush footy clubs are frustrated the NRL could be forced to throw away up to $200,000 on legal fees to resolve their spat with the referees’ union, agreeing with Peter V’landys’ call that the money could have been used to rescue several cash-strapped country clubs.

A furious ARL Commission chairman V’landys revealed to The Daily Telegraph that the NRL was facing significant legal costs to resolve a dispute over the switch to one referee which is now headed for arbitration.

The legal costs could not have come at a worse time for V’landys, who has been trying to reduce expenses across the organisation in a bid to keep the game viable.

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The referees are not happy about the changes. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

The ARLC boss said the money used in court could have been used to help bush clubs and junior footy, and Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley agrees.

Asked how country competitions would spend $200,000, Loxley declared: “Oh, where would you start … $200,000 might not go that far over an entire Group, but for one club it would be a big boost.

“But to be truthful I don’t know what the game is capable of giving us, because in the past we have just helped ourselves.

“No money has come to the bush. Country rugby league runs because people in the bush want it to run, but I like V’landys and hopefully that changes.”

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Country clubs are under increasing pressure. Photo: Debrah Novak

Junee president Simon Van Zanten said $200,000 would last a long time for a struggling country club like the Diesels who have battled with player numbers in recent seasons.

As an NRL development officer in Group 9 who has been stood down during the coronavirus crisis, Van Zanten would also like to see more money devoted to coaching education in regional areas.

“I hope that they are saving money because I want it to go to the development officers so I can work again,” Van Zanten said.

“I saw some comments saying that a quick way to slash five million would be to get rid of the development officers.

“Another way to slash $5 million would be to stop giving the greedy clubs so much money.”