Todd Greenberg’s NRL future to be decided at ARL Commission meeting
Todd Greenberg’s future as NRL chief executive could be decided as early as next week amid growing concerns about his position in the game. FULL DETAILS IN OUR NEW PODCAST.
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Todd Greenberg’s future as NRL chief executive could be decided as early as next week amid growing concerns about his position in the game.
Speaking on The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast, Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield revealed Greenberg was under pressure from several fronts as he looks to extend his current tenure as NRL boss beyond October.
Greenberg, who this week was forced to defend the NRL’s revamp of the Tina Turner Simply The Best campaign, has several other issues affecting his leadership.
Listen in to our brand new The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast every Thursday. In episode one Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie and Adam Mobbs discuss the Cronulla Sharks’ salary cap mess, Todd Greenberg’s future and expansion.
His relationship with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has been described as having “friction”, while several club bosses are believed to be unhappy with his performance.
There’s also concerns around Greenberg’s stance on suburban grounds and the stadium rebuilds of Allianz and ANZ, as well as the no-fault stand-down policy.
“It’s a big story developing every day,” Rothfield told The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast.
“Todd Greenberg took over as chief executive of the NRL on March 18, 2016. And there was a quote there. ‘My goal will be to unite the game at every level because, working together, there is no limit to the potential for Rugby League which can continue to thrive and grow’,” Rothfield said.
“That’s one of the big problems he’s facing now, I don’t think the game is united.
“Peter V’landys rates him but I think there’s friction there and I don’t think they’re gelling.
“There’s enormous unrest among the clubs about his role. And not just necessarily coming from the (ARL) Commission.”
V’landys and his fellow ARL commissioners will meet next week where the main topic of discussion will be Greenberg.
“I think it’s going to be sorted out next week,” Rothfield said.
“I don’t think they want to drag it on next year.
“The way I understand it is this — he has an option on his contract for an extension.
“So the independent commission have to decide next week whether to take up that option or let him run his contract out in October.
“I have a feeling it’s going to blow up next week and they will not take up the option.
“So he’ll still be there — but he won’t have a long-term future in the game.”
Greenberg is keen to remain at the helm of the NRL, having steered the game through a number of controversial issues in the past four years.
Whether that’s enough to sway commissioners V’landys, Gary Weiss, Wayne Pearce, Tony McGrath, Megan Davis and Amanda Laing, remains to be seen.
“I know for a fact that Todd’s deeply concerned about his future,” Rothfield said.
“He’s been ringing chairmen, he’s been ringing chief executives, all the key powerbrokers in the game in recent days trying to shore-up support.
It’ll end up being a Commission decision — they’ll make the call.
“There’s a couple of options – they might just say ‘look, we’re not ready to extend at the moment, let’s have another look in October’ and quietly start looking around for other options. If there’s no better options they’ll sign Todd again.
“But it’s the clubs as much as V’landys, I’m told, are not happy with Todd at the moment, for various reasons.”
Weighing in Greenberg’s favour is the fact the NRL last week announced a second straight surplus of more than $30 million, part of which Greenberg attributed to its strong stance on player behaviour and how he believed the no-fault stand-down policy had protected the league’s image and revenue.
“The other important issue and it’s been in the media a lot lately, is suburban grounds.
“Peter V’landys is desperate to get rid of television matches at ANZ Stadium with 65,000 empty seats in the background.
“He wants suburban ground rugby league.
“Todd Greenberg is very tight with Darryl Kerry at ANZ Stadium. Todd Greenberg is very tight with the (NSW) Premier Gladys (Berejiklian).
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“V’landys wants to do it differently.
“They can’t even get on the same page about the future of our stadium network.
“NRL should not be played at Brookvale Oval. We are a national competition, that ground is a garbage dump.
It’s a dump and the first ground that Peter V’landys wants to rebuild is Brookvale, to go with the new sports science high performance centre.
“Todd wants ANZ Stadium and V’landys wants suburban grounds.”
“It’s more just the friction and the fact they’re on different pages.
“Whether it’s a workable relationship moving forward for the game, particularly with big issues like suburban grounds, remains to be seen.”