NRL head of footy Graham Annesley pushed to make Queensland political comeback

The leading NRL executive and former Gold Coast Titans boss is viewed as a ‘game-changer’ if he jumps to a different field. FIND OUT THE DETAILS

NRL executives shock career move revealed.

Political figures in Queensland are encouraging high profile rugby league executive Graham Annesley to make a run for Gold Coast council.

In a major development ahead of next year’s local government election, Annesley has been sounded out about a tilt in Robina’s Division 11.

A Gold Coast resident and former CEO of the Titans, Annesley is currently the NRL’s elite competitions boss.

NRL football boss Graham Annesley is a former NSW politician and Gold Coast Titans CEO.

Annesley running for City Hall would be a “game changer” for the Coast, according to political sources.

“He lives here. He knows the issues. The city wants to establish itself as a sporting capital and Graham would be someone that could do that,” one insider said.

“Division 11 will be fair game next year. What’s there to lose? If we could convince him to trade the boardroom for the council chamber, half the battle is already won.”

According to others within the city’s local government scene, Annesley would need to announce his candidacy early next year if he was to stand a chance at being elected.

They claim a “feeding frenzy” is underway for Division 11 following the announcement incumbent councillor Hermann Vorster was stepping down. Mr Vorster won LNP preselection for the state seat of Burleigh.

When approached by the Bulletin Mr Annesley said it wasn’t the first time he’d been pushed to make a run for Gold Coast council.

“My name was bandied around four years ago and naturally I’m flattered that people think I may have something to offer my local community,” he said – referring to a rumoured tilt as mayor in 2019.

“The Gold Coast is a great place to live. It’s been my home for 10 years, and it always will be. Of course, I’d love to do whatever I can to help the city grow and prosper, but at the moment I have a great career and I haven’t really considered anything beyond that.”

Asked about whether he would consider a future run for local government, Mr Annesley would not rule it out.

“Let’s see what happens when the time is right, whenever that might be,” he said.

Mr Annesley is no stranger to politics, in 2011 he was elected to New South Wales parliament, as the member for Miranda, an electorate in Sydney’s south.

He was a member of the Liberal National Party in the O'Farrell Government, taking on the role as Sports Minister.

He left the role in 2013 to take on the top job at the Gold Coast Titans.

As the NRL Head of Football Elite Competitions Annesley has become a Voice of reason.

He took on the senior leadership role at NRL HQ in 2018, with many in the game viewing him as rugby league’s voice of reason.

His weekly football briefing published to the league’s website offers a play-by-play breakdown of the weekend’s games and their most talked about moments. Mr Annesley hasn’t held back from taking teams to task over their shortcomings on the field, referees haven’t been spared his frank insights either.

If Annesley does decide to run for division 11 next year he’ll face competition from local businessman and community leader Nic Rone, who announced his election bid earlier this week. Mr Rone ran for the division in 2016 gaining more than 8000 votes to secure almost 41 per cent of the tally. He says the timing is right to run again for council.