2017 NRL General Discussion Thread

[Addy]

Haha

 

[vicsharkfan]

Broncos play 10 of the 1st 11 rounds on a Thursday or Friday night... Greenberg thankfully is cool with it...
I wonder if the NRL could pick a team to win next year if it would be the Bronx or maybe they might like the Warriors to finally salute.

 

[Tatus]

It looks as if Greenberg has already crowned the Bulldogs 2017 premiers with the draw they have been given. Rated the easiest of draws out of the 16 teams... not playing favourites at all, are we, Todd?

 

[vicsharkfan]

It looks as if Greenberg has already crowned the Bulldogs 2017 premiers with the draw they have been given. Rated the easiest of draws out of the 16 teams... not playing favourites at all, are we, Todd?

Just read that... Must revisit that stat after seasons end.. Really is a loaded draw.. So glad we won one.

 

[slide rule]

No confidence: NRL clubs call for sacking of ARL commission chairman John Grant

• Source: AAP

ALL 16 NRL clubs have reportedly issued a no-confidence vote in ARL commission chairman John Grant and called for him to be sacked.
The chairmen of all clubs have sent a letter to NRL headquarters asking for Grant’s head, according to The Daily Telegraph.

They have called for an emergency meeting for a vote on his future amid growing frustration over a failure to come to an agreement on club funding.
He needs four votes to survive.

The report comes after four chairmen stormed out of a meeting at the NRL on Wednesday over a dispute on future funding.

The controversy sparked speculation of a Super League style split but according to Penrith general manager of football, Phil Gould, that’s highly unlikely.
Gould weighed in the news via his Twitter:

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg defended Grant and hosed down talk of a move by clubs to oust him.

Tension has risen between the clubs and Grant over the failure to secure their funding agreement, with four club chairmen walking out of a meeting with him Greenberg at Rugby League Central on Wednesday.

The walkout came after the NRL pulled the club funding agreement from the table, arguing that until the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap were agreed upon, it was pointless negotiating that deal.

While it would require 75 per cent of clubs and the QRL and NSWRL to affect change to the commission board, it’s been suggested Grant’s departure could act as a circuit breaker for the growing rift.

But Greenberg had no doubt Grant should remain in charge.

“John’s a good man who works hard and always puts the game first,” Greenberg said on Thursday.

“And he’s continued to do that as the chairman. I have absolute faith in that.”

Club bosses are frustrated that they couldn’t reach an agreement nearly 12 months after signing a memorandum of understanding over funding and they’re concerned they won’t receive as much of the new $1.8 billion television deal as they thought.

Last December, the clubs and governing bodies reached an in-principle agreement that from 2018 club funding would equate to 130 per cent of the salary cap but that deal was never finalised.

Explaining the delay, Greenberg also said the commission and NRL had to be mindful of the welfare of the game overall, including looking after bush and grassroots level football amid concerns about a drop in participation numbers.

“We’ve got some concerns about where we’re heading,” Greenberg said.

“We’re not the only sport concerned about participation trends.

“What that means is we’ve got to think very carefully about our strategy and how we apply funds whether it’s in regional areas in the bush or in the city areas.”

There will be another meeting between Grant and the clubs next week.

Rugby League Players Association chairman Clint Newton said he wasn’t yet concerned that the salary cap for the 2018 season hadn’t been set even though it was proving difficult for some players to negotiate contracts.

“It’s difficult but at the end of the day we don’t want to be rushed into a position that’s not going to provide the players the best possible outcome,” Newton said.
“As long as that takes, we’re prepared to be at the table.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...t/news-story/9386a2b25875c4bcb61201fee63754c8

 

[HaroldBishop]

The walkout came after the NRL pulled the club funding agreement from the table, arguing that until the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap were agreed upon, it was pointless negotiating that deal.

The fact the 2018 salary cap STILL hasn't been decided upon is so emabarrassing for the NRL it isn't funny any more. How on earth are clubs meant to operate under an environment like this? Just pathetic and amatuerish.

 

[Western Sharkie]

The fact the 2018 salary cap STILL hasn't been decided upon is so emabarrassing for the NRL it isn't funny any more. How on earth are clubs meant to operate under an environment like this? Just pathetic and amatuerish.

I say we spend up BIG and blame the NRL if we are over the salary cap.
If we don't know how much we can spend then we don't know when to stop!

 

[gando2230]

I say we spend up BIG and blame the NRL if we are over the salary cap.
If we don't know how much we can spend then we don't know when to stop!

Sounds like my wife.

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

Imho the nrl need to fix in order:
1. Salary cap (include TPA) - more transparent, so that clubs aren't always getting nailed for going over cap.
2. Funding of clubs - centre of excellence, development of ground so on
3. Reserve and under 20s, however this will need to go hand and hand with development and improvement of bush footy, state cups (tier two), grass roots and women's league
4. MRC - complete overhaul
5. Refs - standards (include bunker
6. Expansion - have two conference which change yearly . 10 teams in each conference (play each other in conference twice and then 5 team of other conference ( 23 rounds and 3 rounds for representive)

NRL say they are fixing it, however they been saying that for years. Fans, clubs and players have had enough

 

[Born&bred]

NRL club bosses to refuse olive branch from John Grant over club funding dispute

Unrepentant NRL club bosses will refuse an olive branch to head back to the negotiating table with embattled Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant this week after resolving to press ahead with plans to dump rugby league's most powerful administrator.

A weekend hook-up between representatives from the 16 NRL clubs reaffirmed their stance on the bitter club-funding dispute, which has set the wheels in motion for a shake-up of the ARLC.

While Grant used his defiant press conference on Friday afternoon to hint he expected the clubs to be back at the negotiating table within days, it is understood there is virtually no chance of that happening.

A swift about-face from the clubs might have helped Grant's cause if he could start mending the poisonous rift between League Central and its major stakeholders, but the chairs will resist any immediate attempt to restart dialogue

The seething clubs will continue to explore legal options to have the memorandum of understanding, which was brokered late last year, offering club grants at 130 per cent of the yet-to-be-determined salary cap from 2018 onwards, honoured.

That pledge being taken off the table triggered a walkout of four club bosses at last week's meeting to discuss the funding template once the record $1.8 billion TV deal kicks in from 2018.

It was intended to be part of an extra $100 million per year the ARLC had trumpeted would be spent on clubs from 2018 to 2022 and would result in perpetual licences guaranteeing each club's future in the competition.

Previous ARLC boasts of the agreement making the NRL the only major Australian sporting code to fully cover player costs now appear redundant, but the legal ramifications of the proposed scrapping of the MoU will be explored in detail in the coming days.

The clubs, which discussed their next steps as the dust continued to settle on a dramatic few days in the sport, can now formally notify the ARLC of their intention to stage an extraordinary general meeting, which will vote on the directorship of Grant.

The ARLC has eight days after the clubs lodge a formal notice to respond with a date for an EGM, which has to be then scheduled no later than 21 days following.

Given the ARLC wouldn't want the simmering feud boiling over into the new year, there is still a chance an EGM could be held in the days leading up to Christmas.

The clubs on Friday addressed a letter to the eight commissioners seeking to pass a resolution for the removal of Grant as the ARLC boss, which was supported by 15 of the 16 franchises and the NSW Rugby League.

The NRL-owned Gold Coast Titans and Queensland Rugby League did not endorse Grant's axeing.

The letter demanded Grant "step down immediately" over his bungling of the club funding debate, but the ARLC boss is unapologetic in needing to funnel money elsewhere to grow the overall game.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ver-club-funding-dispute-20161127-gsyi83.html

 

[HaroldBishop]

The Newcastle Knights have abstained from joining the rebel clubs hoping to overthrow ARL Commission chairman John Grant, saying they are in an "invidious" position and need to remain neutral.

Along with Gold Coast Titans, the Knights are under NRL ownership and, as such, Newcastle chairman Brian McGuigan said the club could scarcely become involved in an uprising against the governing body.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...dence-vote-in-john-grant-20161128-gsz68x.html

Grant's next move, take control of the remaining NRL clubs.

 

[slide rule]

Time to do Super League II and bring back the Hunter Mariners.

 

[dylan the villian]

Time to do Super League II and bring back the Hunter Mariners.

yeah im tired of winning the NRL lets go be premiers of the super league for a while

 

[Addy]

Grant's next move, take control of the remaining NRL clubs.

Smart move.

Last time Newcastle sided with the governing body, they won thier first premiership.

Just sayin

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

Get rid of the head shed of NRL and ARLC. A complete clean out and start with a clean slate

 

[HaroldBishop]

Get rid of the head shed of NRL and ARLC. A complete clean out and start with a clean slate

Haha I like that!

 

[HaroldBishop]

Words from a desperate man.

NRL teams have forfeited their independence by voting in a bloc, says John Grant, who has called for a show of leadership among disgruntled clubs in a last-ditch effort to reignite failed funding talks.

The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman could be in the last few weeks of his role unless he can convince the 14 clubs to call off the attack dogs ahead of a meeting on December 20 in which they stand to vote him out of office.

In the meantime, Grant has called for some senior club figures to swim against the tide and signal their willingness to return to the table for new talks later this week or early next week. He remains convinced bridges are only charred, not burned.

"The strength of this game, especially in the commission's view, is independence. That was decided by the founding fathers of the commission from a constitutional point of view," Grant said.

"Independence is really important. When you vote as a bloc, you give up your independence. What we're seeing is a loss of independence of the individual clubs. That needs leadership. That needs leadership that says 'I know we're not going down the right track here but never be afraid to pull back'.

"We put forward a position last Wednesday, that was not acceptable, we understand that. Now we're going to pull back to come forward."

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ent-game-says-john-grant-20161129-gt005w.html

 

[Western Sharkie]

But wasn't this all about him reneging on discussions (and a handshake agreement) they had months ago?

 

[HaroldBishop]

But wasn't this all about him reneging on discussions (and a handshake agreement) they had months ago?

Yep, 12 months ago, 12 months of complete inaction and he wonders why clubs have the ****s? Just because most clubs agree on something they're not thinking independently, too funny.

 

[slide rule]

"These bridges are merely charred, not burned." :ridiculed