John Grant’s position as ARLC chairman is safe after clubs opt against mutiny

JOHN Grant’s position as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman is safe after the 16 NRL club chairs opted against trying to overthrow him.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman John Grant Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga announce the team for the up coming Test in Canberra. Picture: Gregg Porteous

ARL Commission chairman John Grant is safe — but now the club chairs have set their sights on trying to torpedo NRL chief financial officer Tony Crawford.

An extraordinary meeting involving all 16 club power­brokers in Sydney on Tuesday did not feature any plot to overthrow Australian Rugby League chairman Grant.

They largely agreed Grant would not reapply for the top job and be gone next February once his tenure expires.

Instead, the club chairs want Grant to “show some leadership’’ and make somebody accountable, most notably Crawford, for the NRL’s $50 million cash black hole.

The clubs were told they would receive $13 million a season during the course of the $1.8 billion broadcast deal.

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But frustrations reached boiling point last week when Crawford and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg informed the chairs and CEOs there were cashflow problems, and they would only be paid $12 million for the first year.

Crawford told the clubs they would receive the extra $1 million in 2023, a year after the new broadcast deal expires.

While some club chairs ­immediately wanted Grant’s head, they agreed it was best to let Grant do his job and come down hard on the person who allowed the financial mess to happen.

Grant is not expected to reapply for the top job.

The Daily Telegraph was told Crawford and other senior members in NRL management raised concerns with Grant last December about the financial model being unsustainable for 2018. It was around the same time the clubs were calling for Grant to be axed.

The salary cap was not discussed by the chairs.

The chairs reiterated their stance to have two club-­endorsed independents on a new 10-man commission they hope will be rolled out as part of a “constitutional change’’.

The two states would each have a seat, along with the six independents.

Originally published as John Grant’s position as ARLC chairman is safe after clubs opt against mutiny