NRL rebellion: Rugby league clubs want CEO Dave Smith gone or threaten to leave competition

NRL rebellion: Rugby league clubs want CEO Dave Smith gone or threaten to leave competitionAugust 23, 2015 12:00amJAMES HOOPERThe Sunday TelegraphClubs are threatening to leave the NRL competition unless CEO Dave Smith is ousted. Picture: Phil HillyardSOME of the most powerful figures in rugby league have floated the idea of a breakaway 12-team competition in a bid to oust NRL CEO Dave Smith.Last week’s TV negotiations, which saw Fox Sports and Telstra cut out of the deal, is the latest in a growing list of frustrations they have with Mr Smith and Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman John Grant.The new competition would be made up by the 12 clubs, whose NRL participation agreements end at the conclusion of the 2017 season.Of those 12, four are leading the rebel league discussions with the goal of getting Mr Smith and Mr Grant torpedoed out of office.Under the radical proposal the four clubs currently being propped up by the NRL – Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and Gold Coast – would be left out of the new competition.The push has been discussed among some of the most influential figures in rugby league who remain furious at a range of NRL decisions, including cutting key stakeholders Fox Sports and Telstra out of the TV negotiations.Their anger was intensified after News Corp and the Seven Network partnered to give the AFL a record $2.5 billion television deal.The inconsistencies from the NRL match review committee and the judiciary in relation to the shoulder charges are also a key concern of the powerbrokers, as well as the multi-million dollar blow-out of executive salaries and the number of staff employed since Smith was appointed at the start of 2013.Source: http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl-rebellion-rugby-league-clubs-want-ceo-dave-smith-gone-or-threaten-to-leave-competition/story-fni2flhh-1227494555625

"I think Braith respects Ryles as a coach and what he's doing at Parra and obviously believes Lomax did the wrong thing, listened to poor advice and brought this all upon himself and did the wrong thing to Parra"

"I'm putting last year down to the new style of attack and defence that had been implemented, as well as relying on Volkman at half. It was a disatorous 1st half without doubt, but I can't see that happening again. We should be much better prepared…"

Replies

Ham Sammich August 23, 2015 at 12:24pm

And I thought that James Hooper was supposed to be one of the good ones. He's fallen to the likes of his other dt journos. This article was written because the NRL aren't sucking Murdoch's dick.
- Alan Hunt > Ham Sammich August 23, 2015 at 12:32pm
  
  Since when has Hooper been one of the good ones???? He works for news so he's a piece of shit like all the rest.
  
  More scaremongering from News Limited, don't fall for the rubbish people it's what Uncle Rupes wants.
- Raptor Jesus > Ham Sammich August 23, 2015 at 5:26pm
  
  All the newscorp sites (dt, fox, new.com.au, sky) are attacking the NRL ruthlessly because they have frozen their boss Murdoch out of his deal. If the NRL are smart they should sign with netflix for the remaining games (an expanding medium) and ditch foxtel for good (a shrinking medium).
  That will really piss murdoch off, netflix is stealing all his business making foxtel irrelevant
  
  http://new.com.au/
- Raptor Jesus > Ham Sammich August 23, 2015 at 5:29pm
  
  If you work for Murdoch you have to swallow the cool-aid and sell your soul. Thats the only way you get the job
speedy2460 August 23, 2015 at 12:46pm

I totally support any plan to rid the game of Smith, Grant and Greenberg.
Mitchy August 23, 2015 at 12:47pm

If this ever did take off, and I say if, it'd be another black eye for the game. AFL would be sitting back and laughing at this media report. I'm sure the clubs can get rid of Smith without this turmoil spoiling a game that already has enough problems. Guess we have to see what plays out with the Fox rights etc. and then we can judge.
ParraTime August 23, 2015 at 12:58pm

I wasn't old enough to know what happened in the original SL war, but from what i gathered it did worse for the game than any good. Anyway I hope Smith is booted, he destroyed our game.
slip August 23, 2015 at 1:02pm

Super league - here we go again.
Alan Hunt August 23, 2015 at 1:03pm

News fucked this game over for 20 years, just so Rupes could have RL on his pay network for chump change. They are the worst thing to ever happen to the game, have a look at the hack journo's that write about the game??? Not one of them has a real love of the game, all they do is tear the game down and the amazing thing is RL fans fall for their BS everytime.
Hugo August 23, 2015 at 1:30pm

I was dead against the original super league and very much a ARL man - even before the eels decided to stay with the ARL ....BUT.....
Sorry, this time I'm very very much for change.
These idiots in charge now couldn't run a chook raffle. They are an absolute blight on the game.