National Rugby League club bosses will urge the Australian Rugby League Commission "not to rush through reforms proposed in Shane Richardson's blueprint for the future of the game," as the outgoing head of NRL strategy and game development welcomes what he anticipates will be a "robust" summit at League Central next week, according to Chris Barrett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Richardson's final major assignment will be to run a meeting of 16 clubs to "thrash out their differences on a range of initiatives he has proposed" such as the so-called Platinum League and new state-based U20 competitions. Club "heavyweights" attended a meeting where it was determined "to urge the ARL Commission not to rush into significantly changing the elite pathways and second-tier system," which under Richardson's plan would "take new shape to coincide with the start of the next television deal" in '18. Gold Coast Titans CEO Brian Canavan said, "It's an incredibly complex issue. ... We've got to make sure we get it right because you really only get one chance at these things." NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg is "to assume responsibility for implementation of the recommendations contained in Richardson's report," which could be adjusted based on the official response from clubs as well as the New South Wales Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League (SMH, 2/11).
