Heavyweights set to shake-up ARLC’s new-look board

The Australian Rugby League Commission is set to introduce a new-look board with a number of high-profile candidates including John Quayle in line for roles.

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The Australian Rugby League Commission is set for a massive shake-up with the likes of John Quayle, Nick Pappas and Laurence Lancini emerging as potential candidates to join a new-look board.

The long-mooted constitutional reform was agreed in-principle by club chairs and chief executives at a meeting on Friday.

The move will give clubs greater power to appoint and remove commissioners. It could also mean the axing of the mandatory three-year stand down rule for club officials which has kept some of the game’s best administrators from joining the commission.

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John Quayle may join a new-look ARLC board.

The move paves the way for the likes of Quayle, Pappas and Lancini to join the commission as early as February when at least one vacancy left by Mark Coyne will be filled at the AGM. Clubs were undecided if the three year independence should be scrapped completely or to lessen the term to 12 months.

The other big change is restricting commissioners to just two terms – a maximum of six years – on the commission.

Other elements of the proposal included clubs needing 75 per cent approval to remove a commissioner and only 50 per cent of clubs needed to appoint one.

Former ARL Commissioner Mark Coyne’s role will be filled. Picture: Toby Zerna

The restriction of terms is not expected to impact long-term commissioners Wayne Pearce and Gary Weiss who had another three years extended earlier this year.

State bosses George Peponis and Bruce Hatcher will now have the changes formally documented where clubs will review the wording and consequences before any possible endorsement.

It is understood only the Titans objected to the changes.

Former chairman Peter Beattie has been at the forefront of campaigning for constitutional reform.

All the action between the clubs happened before new ARLC chairman Peter V’landys opened his first club meeting.

The NRL and clubs delivered their thoughts about the highs and lows of the season in what was a fairly non-eventful gathering. The common theme in terms of priorities for clubs next year included converting fans to members, commercialising digital and game day attendances.

Meanwhile, Canterbury boss Andrew Hill has been appointed to the board of Touch Football Australia. Hill – who led the alliance between touch football and the NRL – replaces Greenberg on the board.

Originally published as Heavyweights set to shake-up ARLC’s new-look board