NSWRL, ARLC board stoush threatens to explode before State of Origin Game 1
The boardroom war between the ARL Commission and NSWRL has ignited days before Origin Game I, over the withholding of millions of dollars funding.
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The simmering war between the ARL Commission and NSW Rugby League has exploded on the eve of State of Origin after the Blues issued a statement demanding that their funding be restored “without delay”.
News Corp has obtained a copy of the statement that was sent to NRL clubs on Monday morning, also confirming that the NSW Rugby League had appointed Kevin Greene to the board.
Greene, the chair of the NSW Referees Association, is a former NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing as well as Sport and Recreation. The ARL Commission recently sent the NSWRL a letter notifying them of their plans to take over the Blues State of Origin side from next season, prompting the state body to hit back.
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The commission provides the NSWRL with $1.7 million each month, money that has been withheld since the two parties fell out over the NSW elections earlier this year.
“The ARLC appears to labour under a misapprehension that is has a discretion as to whether it should pay funding or not,” the NSWRL said in their statement.
“The word ‘will’, in terms of requirement for funding, makes the provision of funding the NSWRL mandatory. It is not something that the ARLC can withhold on a whim, as they seem to be doing presently.
“Of course, the only people who are being punished by the ARLC withholding funding the NSWRL are the more than 100,000 participants in the game in NSW.
“For the good of the game, the ARLC needs to restore the funding without delay.”
The NSWRL also claimed they had asked for a meeting with the ARLC to attempt to resolve their issues, only to be rebuffed.
“Regrettably, by the events which have followed since 13 May, our good faith attempts to move issues forward have been unsuccessful,” the statement said.
“The ARLC has advised us that they are not prepared to meet in a way which would provide a forum for solving issues and moving forward.
“Of equal regret to us is the dissemination of information and commentary regarding the court proceedings, which does not accurately reflect the judgment of the Supreme Court of NSW.
SPORT CONFIDENTIAL
—Brent Read and Michael Carayannis
JUDICIARY RULES CLEANED UP FOR REP MATCHES, FINALS
The ARL Commission has moved to clean up judiciary rules around representative matches and finals by reducing the impact of charges from that arena on club football, and formally recognising the All-Stars game and Test matches.
The commission announced the changes on Friday, meaning they will be in effect for this year’s State of Origin series.
The changes will mean that players are less likely to miss club football should they be charged in representative games because more offences in that arena will result in fines.
Fines will be paid as a percentage of their representative payments, while players will carry forward a “representative judiciary record” that resets each year.
“The retention of match suspensions for more serious and repeat offences, together with fines linked to match payments will ensure a continuing strong deterrent against on-field misconduct,” the NRL said in a statement.
“Additionally, the annual All-Stars fixture and other test matches will be formally recognised as representative matches under the judiciary code, permitting players who have been selected, or can establish the likelihood of their selection, to serve suspensions in those matches.”
The NRL has also reduced the danger of players missing finals game for minor offences by deeming that someone who commits a third offence over the course of the season in a finals match will be entitled to pay a fine rather than receive a ban.
BITTER INFIGHTING THREATENS TO TEAR BLUES APART
Confidential can reveal that the ARL Commission has notified the NSWRL of their plans to take control of the Blues after this year’s series after being requested to do so by the all-powerful NSW club chairs.
The request was made at a meeting last week where the chairs asked the commission to give the NSWRL 12 months notice of their plans to charge of the Blues.
The explosive revelation comes as it emerged that former NSW coach and captain Wayne Pearce skipped a Blues dinner earlier this week due to the bitter stoush between the commission and the NSWRL.
Pearce is the longest-serving member of the ARL Commission. None of the commissioners attended the dinner. Nor did any of the NRL hierarchy due to the brawl that has simmered since the ill-fated NSWRL Board elections earlier this year.
Club bosses largely snubbed the dinner as well – Wests Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis attended because he is the Blues’ major sponsor while Canberra chief executive Don Furner was there to support Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who was nominated for the Hall of Fame.
St George Illawarra chair Craig Young also attended to show support for club legend Ken Kearney, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
While the fate of the Blues remains in the balance, Confidential understands the ARL Commission has approved the Blues’ budget for this year’s series, albeit after poring over it with a fine-tooth comb.
It is understood some of the costs were questioned but the NSWRL will receive their funding. It may be the last time. The commission believe they have the power to take over the Blues with the support of 75 per cent of the state and clubs.
They are believed to be confident the support is there, leaving the NSWRL facing the grim prospect of losing control of the Blues at the end of this year’s series. It is understood there is no desire on behalf of the Commission or the clubs to take control of Queensland.
The bitter brawl follows the NSWRL’s decision to prevent Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta running in their board elections earlier this year, citing a conflict of interest with his role at club level.
The NSW Supreme Court subsequently ruled he had been wrongly prevented from running for the board, although they deemed the election result stood.
The NSWRL has since offered Mezzatesta place on the board, which he politely declined citing his belief and that of his fellow club bosses that the elections should be run again.
The ARL Commission is expected to appeal the court decision.
RIVAL NABS ROLE BURGESS WANTED
Sam Burgess’ hopes of joining the English coaching staff appear dashed.
Burgess was set to work with the England team last year ahead of the World Cup but Covid-19 complications put an end to that. It now appears he is unlikely to work with the squad this year.
Burgess has dipped his toe into coaching this year after taking over the Orara Valley Axemen. His former coach Wayne Bennett was an interested observer when Burgess’ side lost 26-10 to Macksville last weekend. Greg Inglis has featured for Macksville this season but did not play last week after getting married last month.
It was Burgess’ loss of the season having won his opening two matches in a rain-impacted start to the year.
While Burgess is now unlikely to take on a role with England, his long-term adversary James Graham is in the mix to join Shaun Wane’s coaching staff at the end of the season.
NEW DEAL OFFERED TO BLUE EEL
Parramatta has upped the ante in the fight for Ryan Matterson, tabling a revised four-year deal in the hope of keeping the NSW State of Origin star out of the clutches of Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins.
Confidential understands that the Eels have shown their intent by offering Matterson a longer deal at the club despite reports that he has already agreed to join the Dolphins for their inaugural season in 2023.
The Eels came back to the table with a four-year deal, believed to be worth in the vicinity of $2.5 million, as they plan to make Matterson a key part of their premiership tilt.
Eels coach Brad Arthur was forthright in his hope Matterson would remain at the club.
“We have put a good competitive offer for four years to him and we would love him to stay,” Arthur said.
“He is a local junior - came through our system – and been back now for a couple of years and playing his best footy.
“He is a real integral part of us moving forward. We would love him to stay.”
Matterson flew to Brisbane last week where he toured the Dolphins set-up and spoke to Bennett. The NRL’s newest franchise are believed to be increasingly confident that they have their man, but the Eels won’t give up without a fight.
In their favour, Matterson knows that staying at Parramatta guarantees he will be in top eight contention. The Dolphins are a relative mystery and success is not certain.
Arthur points out that the past fortnight has demonstrated the danger of moving to a side that struggles to be competitive - Josh Addo-Carr was axed from NSW after moving to Canterbury.
“He has some mates here, his family are obviously very important to him,” Arthur said.
“I am sure he doesn’t really want to leave his family. We are a competitive team which helps with Origin selection. We have seen what has happened in the last couple of weeks with a few other players - if you are in a competitive team, it gives you a better chance.
“I feel like his preference is to stay in Sydney, stay at Parramatta around his family but I am not sure what the Redcliffe offer is.
“We definitely want him to stay. He is an important part of our team moving forward. He will be handy for NSW because he can play anywhere in the forward pack for them.”
Asked when he expected a decision from Matterson, Arthur said: “I am sure he wouldn’t want to be worrying about it now during Origin.
“We don’t want him to worry about that. We want him to worry about playing well.”
STAR SEA EAGLE SET FOR DAY IN COURT
Manly hooker Manase Fainu is edging towards his day in court as he prepares for a readiness hearing on June 17, the final step before he has a trial over his longstanding police charges.
Fainu remains on a train and trial contract with the Sea Eagles after the club received permission from the NRL to keep him at the club pending a decision on his charges, which stem from a stabbing outside a church dance more than two years ago.
If he is exonerated, there is every chance he could be back on the field for the club this year. What makes that interesting is that Manly have been linked in recent days with Brisbane hooker Jake Turpin.
Turpin has been given permission to explore his options on the open market with a view to moving before August 1. Newcastle are the early favourites to secure the tough rake, who has been linked with The Dolphins for next season.
Manly’s interest may hinge on their faith in Fainu’s ability to be successful in the courts. His trial is due to begin next month.
GOLF SERIES LANDS ANOTHER STAR
Former Wallabies captain George Gregan has become the latest Australian sporting legend to join the Icon Series, the exhibition golf event to be played in New Jersey later this month.
Gregan will join former world tennis No.1 Ash Barty, ex-Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, and a handful of global superstars in the teams event - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, former boxer Oscar De La Hoya and retired swimmer Michael Phelps will also feature.
The tournament will be played over a nine-hole team match-play format at Liberty National. Gregan played in a previous iteration of the event some years ago and can’t wait to take part again.
“Some people you have history with - I have known Ricky Ponting for a number of years,” Gregan said.
“I have met briefly Ash Barty. I have not spent a lot of time with her but I have heard nothing but great things from good friends of mine and look forward to the opportunity to spend some time with her.
“Playing golf is the bonus.”
EELS’ NRLW STAR TO CREATE HISTORY
On the back of her bedroom door Ruby-Jean Kennard set her goals. She will tick one of the major ones off when she not only signs an NRLW contract with the Eels but becomes the club’s first player to progress through their pathways.
“At the end of last year I made a note to make NRLW within two years,” Kennard said. “The next is to make City and then the NSW under-19 team.
“When I was told of the contract, I was quiet and I didn’t know how to react.”
The 18-year-old has risen through the Eels junior pathways. First as a touch footballer Hills Hornets before playing for the Toongabbie Tigers at 14. The prop progressed into Parramatta’s Tasha Gale team and then the club’s Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side with Wentworthville.
Eels boss Jim Sarantinos praised Kennard’s progress and hopes she will be the first of many players to come through the club’s pathways.
“We said last year that a key focus area in 2022 will be participation and the growth of rugby League in western Sydney,” Sarantinos said. “We’re honoured to be able to provide young girls and women in Western Sydney with a pathway to represent the Parramatta Eels at the elite level.”
BULLDOG IN DEMAND
Canberra and Newcastle will go head to head again for another player after the Raiders turned their attention to securing Canterbury prop Jack Hetherington.
The Knights beat out Canberra to secure Adam Elliott’s future from next season paving way for the Raiders to try to fight back and land Hetherington. The Knights still have the cap space to secure Hetherington – who met Newcastle officials last month – despite signing Elliott to a three year deal from next season.
Hetherington has a long affiliation with the Raiders. His dad Brett played 119 games for the club and was part of their 1994 premiership success while uncle Brett Mullins is a Raiders legend.
He is expected to move on from the Bulldogs at the end of the season despite a mutual option for 2023.
NRL STARS WEIGH UP WORLD CUP SWITCH
This is a list of NRL stars who England hope could represent them at season end.
The likes of Campbell Graham, Victor Radley, AJ Brimson, Bradman Best, Lindsay Collins and Liam Knight are under consideration by English coach Shaun Wane should they elect to represent England at the world cup.
Collins is playing for Queensland on Wednesday night while Brimson has also represented the Maroons.
Graham and Radley have been on the cusp of NSW selection in recent series.
But if the group are overlooked or choose not to represent Australia they are well in the mix to play against the Kangaroos this year.
Wane was in Australia last month and tracked down a host of potential English players. He has openly spoken about picking Sam Walker while Jackson Hastings has already represented Great Britain.
UFC STAR GIVES BLUES A FIGHTING CHANCE
UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski dropped into Blues training at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday.
Blues players peppered him with questions about what it is like to step into the cage ahead of his fight with Max Holloway on July 3.
“I love rugby league and I love State of Origin. I had a chat with the guys about the headspace, mentality … They are fans of sport and have seen me in my fights. They asked ‘what are you thinking when you are going out (into the cage)’. Questions about being in uncomfortable positions and what gets me prepared for the dark moment in the Octagon. There are times when things are not going your way … how do you stay on task.
“It’s never comfortable, but I accept the dark places and I try to stay calm and composed and not panic. When you don’t panic under that heat, that is what gets you through.”
Volkanovski has worked with the Dragons.
SIGNING BOOST FOR PNG’S NRL BID
Former Canterbury and World Cup boss Andrew Hill has been appointed to drive Papua New Guinea’s NRL bid.
The experienced rugby league executive will oversee the establishment of PNG’s quest to become the 18th team.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for the game in PNG,” Hill said. “Everyone around the world knows the passion that Papua New Guineans have for the game, we also know how important rugby league is for the country but equally important, the country is very important for rugby league.”
BLUES’ MOST POPULAR STAR
Junior Paulo is not even the most favoured Blues player in his family. The NSW prop has been hassled by his son Mario-Cade all camp about a new teammate.
“My son is a massive fan of Kotoni (Staggs),” Pualo said. “Whenever I phone home all they want to know how is ‘what is Kotoni like’.”
NRL AVOIDS ORIGIN PAYNE
The NRL would have been placed in a tricky position had the Broncos relented and granted Payne Haas an immediate release last week. It would have thrown Haas’ Origin availability into question given he would have been an unregistered player at the time when teams were selected. The only real precedent is when Wayne Bennett flew Allan Langer from the English Super League to play in the Origin decider for Queensland in 2001.
MEDITERRANEAN WORLD CUP CLASH
Lebanon will be firing up its World Cup preparations with a match against Malta at Belmore Sports Ground on June 25. The Cedars will play Malta in under-17, under-19 and an open women’s match before kick-off to the international fixture at 730pm.
The countries will play for the Tim Mannah-Michael Vella Cup in honour of the two ex-Eels.
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