Sydney clubs dragging the game backwards

Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros. Source: Mark Cranitch / News Corp Australia

QUEENSLAND Rugby League chairman Peter Betros has accused disaffected Sydney clubs of trying to "drag the game backwards'' in agitating against the sport's leaders Dave Smith and John Grant.

Powerbrokers from some Sydney clubs, primarily Sydney Roosters, Canterbury and Penrith, are critical of the direction NRL chief executive Smith and ARL Commission chairman Grant have taken the game.

Grant's position as chairman of the ARLC comes up for reappointment by peer commissioners for a second term at the annual general meeting in February.

Some Sydney clubs miss not having the direct influence of decision-making wielded before the indenpedent ARLC took charge in early 2012.

Sydney media reports have in recent weeks foreshadowed opposition to Grant's reappointment and disaffection with Smith's leadership style.

ARLC Chairman John Grant and NRL Chief Executive Dave Smith. Source: News Limited

Complaint about what these clubs see as a lack of consultation by Smith is effectively frustration at being unable to influence change to their advantage as they used to do.

Betros and QRL managing director Rob Moore reaffirmed support for the Commission and Smith at a meeting in Sydney on Monday at which the QRL's budget was presented.

"As far as we are concerned there is no need for change,'' Betros said.

"We support where the commission is taking the game, where Dave Smith is taking the game and we fully support the chairmanship of John grant and support (the process of) reappointing him as chairman.

"We are not expecting any change. The only agitation for change, as I understand it, comes from some clubs in Sydney.

"They should get behind the Commission instead of trying to get back to the old days. They should stop trying to drag the game backwards, that's all they are doing with this.''

Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros. Source: News Corp Australia

The QRL is one of 26 voting "members'' of the ARLC, with others being the 16 NRL clubs, the NSWRL and the eight ARL commissioners.

The ARLC constitution says 10 members may, with the additional support of both the NSW and Queensland Leagues, vote to remove a director.

Fourteen members are required to remove a Commissioner without the support of both the state leagues, it says, and should either of these events occur, the remaining seven commissioners would appoint a replacement.

The right to appoint a chairman is solely at the discretion of the commissioners.

"If the clubs were very unhappy with one of the commissioners, they would have to get enough support before the annual meeting to raise the issue at the annual meeting to replace one of the commissioners,'' Betros said.

The QRL received a good hearing from the ARLC on requesting funding increases at Monday's meeting, Betros said.

"While we haven't had an answer we are confident we will be able to push on with our plans for 2015 and the future,'' he said.

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