I started a campaign more than six months ago, that was aimed at getting the club to approach its dealing with the NRL in a collaborative and transparent fashion. This was back when I was concerned that the governance review was rapidly approaching its deadline and we were seemingly not budging on key constitutional reform requests, or working through the salary cap breach issues.
As we saw, even back then, the club took a confrontational view to working with the NRL. I believe that the politics happening inside the club, was to turn the NRL into an enemy that needed to be fought against, rather than as a regulator who needed to be worked with.
I've said this umpteen times, since. This is not politics but we went in from the word-go with the kind of boots and all approach that was familiar to some of those on the board. Every communication from the board was about fighting, or "standing up for the club". We denied, denied, denied. Things went from bad to worse
About two months ago, I was at my wits end. I had become an ugly, negative poster to this site, but I could see very clearly where we were headed towards and there didn't seem to be anything to be done about it. I actually phoned one of the site's mods because I was concerned at my own negativity but I didn't know how to communicate my frustrations, because it's fair to say, that as a supporter base we've been in denial as well. After speaking personally to Sharpie, who still claimed complete innocence, I decided the only thing to do was shut up, and let the facts play out. And so we come today.
I'm writing this, not as a I-told-you-so (there will be enough people doing that) but because there are people who are going to remain on the board, who have been responsible for the way the club has approached this and this subsequent horrendous penalty. They have protested innocence time and time again, and it has led to us taking entirely the wrong approach on almost every occasion. I've said for a long time now, that Steve Sharp has been entirely wrongly advised on how to approach this saga. If the club decides to fight this, it will be fruitless and only result in more pain. It's time to concede.
Those that argued for a combative approach to our dealings with the NRL, are in my view, just as complict, if not more complicit for these points being lost, as those who have been deemed responsible for the breeches. The Andrew Webster story yesterday was actually pretty spot on. It never should have come to this.
At some point, some leader in this club, needs to demonstrate accountability. Whatever happens at this club, it's never any one's fault or it's always someone else's fault. When you are put in a position as a guardian of our club, you have a responsibility to watch over it and if you fail, you man up to that. We expect that of our players, our coaches, and we have to expect the same of our administrators and board.
And the only way you get accountability, is via transparency and open-ness. As we work forward out of this mess, that's should be a non-negotiable expectation for whoever ends up trying to put back the pieces.
Replies
Yep, we need better systems independent of people.
The way your opinion reads Phil is that you believe The NRL made their decision today based on emotion and / or revenge ?
No, the Broncos made Andrew Gee the fall guy, and that seemed to be enough to satisfy the NRL not to press ahead.
I believe they were pushed into a corner.
Be transparent, have solid governance, if the system isn't fair or doesn't work then use your good governance and transparency to prove it.
And for Christ's sake learn to play poker! Learn what chips you hold, learn the hand you've got, and play to it. If you play the big man bluff game all full of bravado then get ready for the inevitable and punishing fall to earth.
What's been highlighted again is lack of experience. Rookie mistakes. Overcompensation, egos and emotions over tried and true methods.
Where ever we go from here please, please, please let's value experience above all else. Experienced board members. Experienced admins. With a proven track record of governance and a trust in visibility and accountability.
Good call skipper.
What would've happened had we not opened the doors for The NRL ? Would they have been able to de register us ? I not talking legally , I'm talking about would they have had the balls to do it ?
Too many leaks at the Eels for this approach..
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