Queensland welcomes the new era in league

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher says rugby league will have a new era of communication and trust among its administration after an expanded 10-member commission was approved yesterday.

Former state premier Peter Beattie is a certain appointment as ARL Commission chairman, taking charge some time after February. The ARLC will comprise Beattie and five other independent commissioners, two more representing the NRL clubs and a commissioner from each of the QRL and the NSWRL.

Under the constitutional reform, the QRL retains its former veto on future changes to the ARLC constitution despite the longstanding opposition of some Sydney clubs, Hatcher said. The QRL gave ground on its opposition to the clubs’ demand that a chairman should have a casting vote in the event of a 5-5 tie between commissioners.

The clubs, in turn, accepted that state chairmen could be the delegate on the ARLC for an initial 18-month period, after which the senior position on the state board should be relinquished or another commissioner recommended.

“The biggest problems have been the result of some very poor communication and slow decision-making,’’ said Hatcher, expected to be the QRL-appointed commissioner.

“A lack of trust can come from people not receiving information or being excluded.

“There is a momentum to get things done, now the talks over the constitution have been completed and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (with players) is done.’’