Club chairmen declare John Grant’s resignation could solve NRL’s escalating civil war

RUGBY league is facing its biggest crisis since the Super League war and several club chairmen believe there is only one solution to the growing problem.

ARL Commission chairman John Grant after club bosses stormed out of the meeting. Picture: Brett Costello

Rugby league is facing its biggest crisis since the Super League war and only the resignation of commission chairman John Grant is likely to solve it.

A dispute over sharing the game’s $1.8 billon TV deal money escalated into a full-scale revolt on Wednesday when the chairmen of Melbourne Storm, the Cronulla Sharks, the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys stormed out of a meeting at NRL headquarters.

Not since the bitter rebel breakaway in the mid 90s has the game seen anything as hostile as this.

The four chairmen, who walked out after 15 minutes, also had the support of Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis, who was overseas but in contact via his mobile phone.

Club chairmen at the Olympic Hotel after storming out of the meeting at League Central. Picture: Brett Costello

The breakdown in talks has left the code is complete disarray with:

- NO salary cap figure beyond next year;

- NO future club funding plan;

- NO collective bargaining agreement with the players; and

- NO participation contracts with any of the 16 clubs beyond 2018.

A source told The Daily Telegraph that only the resignation of Grant “as a circuit breaker” could solve a row that could potentially cripple the game.

“He looked us in the eye last year and promised our future grants would be 30 per cent more than the salary cap,” one club official said. “Now he’s reneged.”

Late on Wednesday a number of clubs were in discussions about calling an emergency meeting of all stakeholders to issue a no-confidence vote in the commission chairman.

However, under the current constitution Grant needs only four votes to survive.

He already has Queensland, the Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights and probably the Parramatta Eels.

The chairmen who remained for the full meeting joined the four ‘rebels’ afterwards at the nearby Olympic Hotel in Paddington.

Grant after the meeting at League Central. Picture: Brett Costello

They later issued a short statement to declare their solidarity after the meeting.

“We met today. Nothing was agreed. The clubs and state leagues remain united on the best way forward. We are considering our next steps and will meet again shortly.”

It will be the meeting that could determine Grant’s future.

While the threat of another Super League remains highly unlikely, the code is fast becoming an embarrassment among stakeholders and corporates with such an uncertain future.

“The game did a $1.8 billion broadcast deal 12 months ago yet the players and the clubs still have absolutely no idea where it is to be spent,” one chairman said.

“That’s 70 per cent more than the previous deal. What are they doing with all the money?”

The biggest threat to the NRL is now the likelihood of the Rugby League Players Association forming a partnership with the 16 clubs in a double-barrel attack to get their share of the funding.

Players Association chief executive Ian Prendergast has met with club bosses in recent weeks to plan their line of attack.