QRL Still Seeks to Halt to independent commission

The threat of legal action by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) has grown stronger with Australian Rugby Union (ARL) Chief Executive Geoff Carr revealed his body had no plans to reverse its decision to support the formation of an independent commission.

As revealed in The Australian newspaper, the QRL has taken legal advice over plans to introduce the independent commission, vowing to take the strongest possible action to protect its stakeholders.

The threat of legal action comes less than three months after a split vote of the ARL agreed to support the commission and its proposed structure. The six NSW-aligned members of the ARL voted in favour of the proposal while the four Queensland directors voted against it.

NRL clubs, who will represent 16 of the 26 members under the revised structure, hope to have the commission up and running by 1st November. However, the QRL's vehement opposition has cast a shadow over those plans.

The issue will be discussed at an ARL board meeting on Thursday but Carr insisted the directors had already cast their vote, stating "News Limited and the ARL have agreed on the structure last March."

Asked by The Australian newspaper whether the situation could change, Carr replied âthat's what the resolution of the ARL board is, so you wouldn't think it would.

"We have to keep it moving. We're intent on keeping it moving."

The Australian reports that the Commission is not the only source of angst between the ARL and QRL. The parties are also at loggerheads over plans to ban Israel Folau for the third State of Origin game, while the QRL has also raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest involving Carr, who is head of both the NSW and Australian Rugby League.

Under the independent commission, the ARL would be dissolved and Carr would concentrate his energies on the NSWRL. Yet the QRL's opposition to the commission threatens to stop that happening.

15th March 2010 - ARL BACKS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION