NRL club chairmen walk out as Todd Greenberg and John Grant backflip on funding

IN a dramatic day at NRL headquarters, four club chairmen have walked out of a meeting following a backflip by Todd Greenberg and John Grant.

ARLC chairman John Grant and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.

FOUR club chairmen have stormed out of a fiery meeting with NRL bosses after a breakdown in negotiations over future funding which threatens the worst split in the game since Super League.

Canterbury’s Ray Dib, Cronulla’s Damian Keogh, Melbourne Storm’s Bart Campbell and the Cowboys’ Laurence Lancini all walked out after 15 minutes.

They met at a nearby hotel to discuss their next move.

Those club bosses also have the support of Roosters boss Nick Politis, who is overseas but left them with his proxy vote.

Seven chairmen from other clubs remained in the room.

In a dramatic day at the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters, chief executive Todd Greenberg and commission chairman John Grant reneged on a deal done last year to fund the clubs 30 per cent more than the salary cap each year.

ARL Chairman John Grant. Picture: Jono Searle

They told the chairmen that all previous agreements had been scrapped and they were now working on a new strategic plan on how to spend the $1.8 billion TV deal.

There was talk after the meeting that clubs would now issue a vote of no confidence in Grant as chairman of the commission.

The chairmen met recently with the NRL and could not agree on any of the 12 points on the agenda.

All 16 clubs end their participation agreements with the NRL next year, which has led to talks of a rebel breakaway group.

The NRL will shortly release a statement on the meeting.

Originally published as NRL club chairmen walk out as Todd Greenberg and John Grant backflip on funding