ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to push club bosses into finding blueprint for future
NRL club bosses are being pressured to bring new ideas to the table by new ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys as the leaders meet at League Central on Friday.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
New ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys will meet nervous clubs for the first time on Friday with chief executives and chairpersons told bluntly to “bring your ideas” to improve rugby league next season.
Clubs expressed an “interest and apprehension” about how V’landys — well known for his strong personality — will chair his initial NRL CEOs and chairpersons conference at League Central, starting from 10am Friday.
The meeting’s agenda was brief — discuss the hits and misses from this year and the priorities for 2020. Some clubs don’t want to be panned for a lack of input.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
MORE NRL NEWS
PRIOR EXIT MAKES WAY FOR STAR TO RETURN TO DRAGONS
NRL LEGEND SCHUBERT’S HORROR AMPUTATION FIGHT
The Daily Telegraph has learned clubs are ready to deliver V’landys an extensive list of ways rugby league could progress and develop for next season.
“He’s certainly got a tough reputation. There might be some apprehension out there. Each club has been told to come prepared with ideas about making the game better — what worked, what didn’t,” said one chief executive.
Another CEO added: “It will be very interesting under the new direction of V’landys,” said one NRL club CEO.
“(Former chair) Peter Beattie used to open the meeting so I’m sure V’landys will now do the same and give his take on the world moving forward.”
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will deliver a detailed season review at the meeting before the think-tank will begin.
CEOs are expected to raise multiple issues from this season — some good, some bad — and discuss whether they should be implemented, and improved, for 2020.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal those issues include:
* V’landys’ push for upgraded suburban grounds in Sydney which would be accompanied by multimillion-dollar high performance centres.
* How to immediately capitalise on the expected success of taking State of Origin I to Adelaide next season.
* Questions about who will replace ARL Commissioner Mark Coyne, who stood down mid-season.
* NRL crowds being slightly down on 2018 with St George Illawarra, Cronulla, Penrith and Manly consistently struggling to pull solid numbers.
* How to deal with Ian Prendergast’s departure as CEO of the RLPA.
* The standard of refereeing.
* How, and if, clubs should be compensated for major injuries to star players in rep matches. Canterbury will be without five-eighth Kieran Foran for a year through a shoulder injury sustained while he represented New Zealand.
* The rise of Tonga and how to ensure the Pacific nation remains financially and politically sound.
* The states - NSW and Queensland - wanting representation on the commission.
* Match scheduling being deemed “an area to look at” according to one official, whether a transfer window would work and will golden point survive.
* The success of Perth in State of Origin and the decision by Canterbury and Sydney Roosters to take games to WA in 2020, along with the NRL Nines. Origin ratings for the Optus Stadium game were down however.
* Membership figures increasing although some clubs – including New Zealand Warriors, Gold Coast and Wests Tigers – continue to struggle for membership revenue.
* Television ratings and crowds, when combined, were up on 2018 but TV ratings dropping by around six per cent on 2018.
* Sydney’s stadia position including ANZ Stadium, the new Allianz Stadium, the success of Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta along with the soon-to-be opened $300m North Queensland Stadium in Townsville.