‘Greatest chair of all’: Beattie lauds V’landys
Former ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie has endorsed his decision to hand over to Peter V’landys as the game prepares for the grand final
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys will celebrate one year in office next week but the plaudits have arrived thick, fast and ahead of schedule.
V’landys’ predecessor Peter Beattie has largely kept his counsel since stepping down last October, but he broke ranks on Sunday as he sought to ensure his successor received the praise that he was due for keeping rugby league alive.
Beattie, a man who knows a thing or two about politics as a former Queensland premier, even suggested V’landys would make a brilliant premier or prime minister such has been his leadership during the covid crisis.
Politics can wait. For the moment rugby league needs him.
“The best thing I did for rugby league was to hand over to Peter V’landys,” Beattie said.
“V‘landys had been on the board with me for almost two years and on many occasions had demonstrated he had the skills and determination in abundance to lead the game.
“More than that, he had shown that rugby league was in his blood. The simple reality is that V’landys loves rugby league and I knew he would do a better job than me as chair.
“Standing down in favour of V’landys was a no-brainer. Rugby league owes Peter V’landys a great debt. The greatest game of all has now had the greatest chair of all.
“V’landys knows how to lead. Indeed he would be a brilliant premier or prime Minister.”
There were many who thought this week would never arrive as COVID-19 gripped the world and forced sporting codes across the globe into hibernation.
V’landys and his fellow commissioners were intent on pressing ahead and they worked feverishly to make it happen. Beattie recalled one period over a month where the commission met on eight occasions, including twice on Sundays as they stepped up plans to ensure rugby league’s return.
The commissioners themselves took pay cuts, yet none of them missed a meeting. Their reward will arrive on Sunday night when the Melbourne Storm and Penrith meet in a title decider few believed possible when COVID-19 first struck.
“The COVID-19 virus was about to devastate the world, infecting and killing millions and having a dramatic impact on sport globally,” Beattie said.
“The coronavirus put the very future of rugby league at risk. What V’landys did when the virus struck is nothing short of amazing.
“To begin with he held his nerve and then did what we want our leaders to do. He laid out a vision of the future of the game and actually led.
“The other sporting codes followed. First he set a date for the restart of the NRL season which was both surprising and breathtaking.
“Many doubted whether it could be achieved and rugby league fans held their breath. Setting a restart date was a brilliant strategy.
“It set a target to work to and cut through the fear of the virus, inspired the fans and gave rugby league a sense of purpose and unity rarely seen.
“In short, V’landys saved the game of rugby league and for the first time in a generation put league ahead of the AFL in the initiative stakes.”
Beattie insists V’landys wasn’t content with just saving the game. He wanted to make it better and in the process, future-proof the code.
Hence the rule changes that were initially met with consternation in some quarters but ultimately proved a winner. The six-again rule has been warmly received.
As has the decision to revert to one referee. The captain’s challenge had its critics, but it too has been a resounding success. The game has seemingly flourished at a time when many feared nothing but doom and gloom.
“V’landys knows that without fans there is no game, so then came some overdue rule changes and one of the most exciting seasons in rugby league history,” Beattie said.
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