National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith has stepped down "after three polarising years at the head of the sport's richest competition," according to Ian Ransom of REUTERS. The NRL said that the Wales-born former banker "will finish his contract on Nov. 30" and Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant will take over on an interim basis. A private recruitment firm "will search for a replacement for Smith, who was a surprise choice to succeed David Gallop in 2013 and wore criticism for his handling of rights negotiations with broadcasters this year." In August, Smith trumpeted a new five-year A$925M ($671M) deal with free-to-air host broadcaster Channel Nine for '18-22 broadcasting rights, "having snubbed Rupert Murdoch's pay-TV unit Fox Sports from negotiations." The News Corp. boss "duly threw his weight behind rival football code Australian Rules," co-signing a six-year A$2.5B deal with free-to-air broadcaster Seven West Media and digital provider Telstra. Smith "walks away with the pay-TV and digital rights components unsettled, and with the NRL facing an uphill task to match the record deal struck by the AFL" (REUTERS, 10/20). In Sydney, Andrew Webster wrote despite the "unicorns and rainbows" feel to Tuesday's shock announcement, there "was widespread scepticism that Smith had gone of his own accord." In other words, he had "been pushed." Five weeks ago, Grant "passionately denied reports" that he was losing faith in his chief executive, claiming he and Smith engaged in "robust debate," nothing more. Smith himself "denied no less than 10 days ago" that he was not going anywhere. He said that last month he "would be in the job for another decade." With half a TV broadcast deal done "it suspiciously reeked of a prod towards the door." Smith's "bold but not so beautiful decision" to freeze out Murdoch's Fox Sports in TV broadcast negotiations -- "meant he was a dead man walking." As soon as the Nine agreement was announced, many of the game's influential stakeholders forecast that the ensuing standoff with News Corp. would only end with Smith's "head on a stick." Asked if Smith had been sacrificed so that News would return to the negotiation table, Grant said, "No. We've done a great deal on free-to-air and we've got discussions with the other parties now" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/20). NEWS LIMITED's Stuart Honeysett wrote from the moment Smith walked through the front doors of Rugby League Central in '13 he "faced an uphill battle" as the new CEO of the NRL. The Welsh banker "brought a business acumen that was second to none" but he came up "well short of the tryline" when it came to his knowledge of rugby league. He suggested an entertainment precinct called E Squared with rock bands and jumping castles "to be set up at games as a means to stem sagging crowd figures." While fans might not have been turning up at the grounds, the same can not be said "for the viewing numbers on television." Ratings "went through the roof under Smith with State of Origin and the grand final regularly filing top spots in the five most-watched programs all year." He "also delivered record profits, the game making a net surplus only just shy" of A$50M in '14. He ensured women "had a more active role in the game." He "oversaw the introduction of the World Club Challenge and the Auckland Nines." He "pushed hard" for a A$1.6B stadium package from the NSW State Government. Smith: "My job was to come in and change some of these big things and hopefully create a bit of momentum. That’s how I see myself and that’s how I always saw myself" (NEWS LIMITED, 10/21).
OUTSIDER COULD FILL ROLL: In a separate article, Honeysett wrote Grant indicated that a replacement for Smith "might be appointed from within the NRL’s ranks but it was more likely another outsider could be brought in to oversee the next phase of the game’s future." NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg "is believed to be a leading candidate, and in the past has flagged his interest in the top job." He "is popular with NRL staff and he is certainly media-savvy but there is a belief that it might be too soon for him." NRL Head of Strategy & Game Development Shane Richardson "is another possible contender after having a long and distinguished career as an administrator but it is believed he will throw his hat in the ring only if he is asked to formally apply for the position." Other options from within the game include Gold Coast CEO Graham Annesley, also a former NRL COO; Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle, also a former New Zealand Netball CEO; and 2017 Rugby League World Cup boss Michael Brown. While Grant was talking up appointments from within the code, "it is understood it may be another outsider who ultimately takes on the role," with former Nine Managing Dir Jeffrey Browne, departing Nine CEO David Gyngell and former ALP Senator Mark Arbib all being mentioned (NEWS LIMITED, 10/21).
