We're told Parramatta have given Anderson his company car and mobile telephone, but the dispute is over the cash settlement. Despite all the off-field controversy, we're told Parramatta fans have rallied behind Kearney and the revamped coaching staff. Club membership numbers and sponsorship dollars are way up on the same time last season despite the fact the team failed to make the semi-finals.
WHEN the respected boss of the Men of League organisation speaks, it's time to stop and listen. Ron Coote is one of the most admired men in the game because he's a straight-shooter. Coote is concerned about how the NRL's independent commission is being set up and has spoken out about the quality of people the game needs.
"There seems to be a veil of secrecy," he says. "To me it is like the secret service, very little has been announced of how it will work or who will select the commissioners. There's been an announcement that the commissioners will be announced in December, yet at this stage no one has mentioned the names of John Fahey or John Quayle. No one would have better credentials than these two gentlemen. Both have extensive careers in rugby league, as players and officials.
"Both have been successful businessmen. John Fahey has a law degree, played rugby league with the Bulldogs in the '60s and is still their patron. He has had an extensive career in politics; he rose to the level of Premier of NSW before graduating to federal parliament, where he became Finance Minister as part of the Howard government. He is currently the president of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) - that rates him in the top 20 sports administrators in the world. He has not been asked if he would be interested in being a commissioner.
"John Quayle has presided over the game's most successful era. He was an outstanding administrator. Who could forget 'Simply the Best' with Tina Turner which, thanks to John Quayle, opened rugby league to a whole new market? It's been said the new commission shall not contain any of the existing NRL board members. One great loss will be Katie Page, who has been a brilliant contributor to the game, bringing her marketing skill to attract female interest in rugby league."
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
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