Change is still afoot
Plan to revisit rugby league restructure
A PROPOSAL to restructure rugby league in the Far North might have fallen over at CDRL level, but expect it to be back on the table next year.
QRL Northern Division director Nigel Tillett said plans to create one major body for the sport was the preferred model and that another vote would be put to stakeholders by mid-2019.
The proposal would combine the Cairns District seniors, Cairns District juniors, Innisfail juniors and Eacham juniors under one body.
“The three junior bodies all voted unanimously in favour of it, but we couldn’t get it across the line at CDRL level,” Tillett said.
“For it to get through we needed 75 per cent in favour and the vote went 10-6.”
There are 18 votes at CDRL level – 11 from the senior clubs, three from the executive, one from the referees and one each from the junior leagues.
Mossman-Port Douglas and Yarrabah did not attend the meeting. Because the vote was held under a secret ballot, there is no record of who voted against the proposal, but Tillett said he was aware of the clubs that held concerns.
“Some of them wanted more detail and to see a draft constitution,” he said.
“We are obliged to push on so the next step is to draw up a draft constitution and circulate it among the stakeholders and go back to another vote.”
Tillett said ideally, the new structure – once approved – would come into play for the 2020 season.
“The meetings with the four leagues in the Far North resulted in an overwhelming vote for change,” he said.
“Only four clubs out of 31 clubs and affiliates in the Far North voted against any change.
“Some of the four against the proposal want more information, which will be forthcoming in the next stage.
“Now … a small representative committee will be established to formulate a draft constitution and a corporate governance charter.
“It is proposed to have these drafts ready for all clubs to discuss by March, with a possible vote by May, 2019.”
Tillett said the proposed changes would not impact the current structure, role and functions of the individual clubs.
“The three largest leagues in Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich) have already transitioned to a ‘whole of game’ model,” he said.
Tillett said there were no plans to include the Northern Pride as part of the restructure, but did not rule it out in future.