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Leagues and Governing Bodies

National Rugby League-Assisted Clubs Hold Key To Commission Chair's Future

Two of the clubs that "hold the key" to whether Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant is "ousted over the funding feud" owe the National Rugby League almost A$10M ($7.4M) as part of League Central "propping up cash-strapped franchises," according to Adam Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. As "embattled" Grant "hopes to bring club bosses back to the negotiating table in the next fortnight to ease rugby league's civil war -- or at the very least sway some numbers back in his favour -- the Dragons and Tigers remain pivotal parts of the jigsaw." Both joint ventures have "received assistance from the NRL in recent years," part of more than A$30M the governing body reported it had spent supporting four clubs in its '15 annual report. Two of those -- the Titans and Knights -- are owned by the NRL. The role of the competition's two joint ventures, in contrasting situations to the Gold Coast and Newcastle, "could hold the key to Grant's future in rugby league's top administrative post." It is understood the Dragons "still owe the NRL" about A$6M ($4.4M) while the Tigers' loan is about half of that, but "still a significant burden to carry." Only the Brisbane Broncos posted a profit in '16 and the other 15 clubs, including premiers Cronulla, lost more than A$45M ($33.4M) combined "as they used dwindling leagues club grants and various benefactors to stay afloat." Given the Dragons and Tigers have obtained funding from the NRL, their support for the plot to remove Grant after the ARLC pulled a memorandum of understanding for club grants from '18 onward "is intriguing." So "furious were the Dragons and Tigers with the MOU being scrapped," which was to pay club grants at a rate of 130% of the yet-to-be-determined salary cap, they aligned with 12 other club chairs who "pushed for an extraordinary general meeting to decide Grant's fate." And if they "remain firm on their stance there appears little way Grant can resist the push to have him removed" (SMH, 12/1).

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