The 16 National Rugby League clubs "have called a temporary truce" with CEO Dave Smith and the independent commission "over the future direction of the game," according to Phil Rothfield of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH.
Predictions of fireworks at Thursday’s meeting in Melbourne "didn’t eventuate with both sides agreeing to a provisional ceasefire while negotiations for future funding of the clubs continue."
Afterwards the clubs nominated Melbourne Storm Chair Bart Campbell as the spokesman. Campbell: "It was a very organized and structured meeting. It was also the first time in a long while all the clubs and the NRL spoke positively about working together. It was a very sensible and adult meeting." How long the peace treaty survives "is the big question."
One chairman said that "it would depend on progress made at a follow-up meeting, most likely next month, over funding issues" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 6/19). In Sydney, Brad Walter reported while some clubs "are believed to be at odds with the NRL over funding, governance issues and the governing body's financial interest in Newcastle, Gold Coast and Wests Tigers," the meeting was described as "productive." Campbell: "I had been to meetings prior to today and yesterday and at no stage did I see anything that led me to believe that World War III was coming or was imminent." Smith also "played down talk of disharmony among some clubs and said there had been good debate at the meeting." He said,
"The communication lines are open and they need to be open because we're going to be stronger together than we are individually" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/18).
