Former Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH and the man who "headed up" News Corp. in Australia for six years, JOHN HARTIGAN, are "believed to have been offered seats on a revamped Australian Rugby League Commission as the sport’s governing body undergoes a forced reinvention." A month after a majority of National Rugby League clubs "almost rolled" ARLC Chair JOHN GRANT over a funding agreement, two other commissioners have resigned, "a third is not seeking another term and a review of the board’s constitution is about to be delivered." In addition to Bligh and Hartigan, former Australian Broadcasting Corp. Deputy Chair and University of Canberra Chancellor WENDY MCCARTHY is "another name being mentioned as a possible commissioner" alongside former Nine Network CEO DAVID GYNGELL (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/20). ... Former British Cycling Technical Dir SHANE SUTTON has received "strong endorsement" from Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) President BRIAN COOKSON as "the controversial coach awaits the decision on a key Australian role." Sutton is "known to be on the short list for Cycling Australia’s high-performance manager position." He is "one of two final candidates, with the appointment likely to be made in the next few weeks." The circumstances surrounding the end of his time at British Cycling mean Sutton "would split opinion if appointed." He resigned before the Rio Olympics "amid allegations of sexism and inappropriate comments" about paracyclists (AAP, 1/20). ... National Rugby League side Newcastle Knights player PAULI PAULI “remains in Gosford Hospital with a dislocated hip after he was involved in a serious seven-car pile-up” on the M1 Pacific Motorway north of Sydney Wednesday night. Knights coach NATHAN BROWN “confirmed the club's medical staff were with the 22-year-old, who was believed to be driving one of the vehicles involved in the crash” (THE AGE, 1/19). ... Briton GEORGE RUSSELL "has been signed" to F1 team Mercedes' young driver development program. The 18-year-old joins drivers PASCAL WEHRLEIN and ESTEBAN OCON as "the third member of the scheme." Russell, who finished third in the European Formula 3 championship last season, "will race in the GP3 feeder series with the leading ART team" (BBC, 1/19). … Former England women's cricket captain RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT has died, aged 77. Heyhoe Flint, VP of League Championship football side Wolverhampton Wanderers, "passed away in the early hours of Wednesday after a short illness." She leaves behind husband DERRICK, their son BEN, and her stepchildren ROWAN, HAZEL and SIMON. Ben said the family was "deeply saddened." Heyhoe Flint captained England between '66 and '78 (BBC, 1/18).