Steve Mortimer let slip on Fox sportsline that the Independent Commission had been agreed and would be taking over the game in November. I wonder if that was his opinion or if he blurted out something he knows that hasn't yet been announced?

Lets bloodywell hope so, great news if true.

If this happens, I'd say the Bears and Reds will get the green light straight away.

I wish but no way there will be any expansion unless the TV deal is worth alot more $'s. Don't forget that the clubs voted against expansion a couple of months ago and they will be the ones voting in the commision.

parras right

they have to agree to expand before letting the 2 new teams in as theres an extra game that someone has to pay for and a perth time slot adds value to eastern australia

I thought I posted a responce in here about 10 mins ago



Hmmm bloody computers.

I just hope it's done properly and not rushed and I hope they look at the bigger picture instead of themselves and their clubs.

Forgive my ignorance but what's the IC? And what would it mean for the game?

Independent Commission to run the game instead of News limited and the ARL.

The IC would be able to do whatever it likes in regards to the game in moving forward without having to ask News limited first and the ARL dinosaurs who have held the game back for the last 15 years.

I just hope the clubs don't get controll and put all the money into their own whilst ignoring expansion markets, grass roots and the International game.

So it would be a good thing because the NRL clubs won't be reigned in by outside parties? Is it better financially for the clubs?

yes, plenty more money alone just by cutting all the hangers on, something like 6/8 million just by removing things like the QLR, CRL, NSWRL, ARL and all the rest.

But I only want it if they look after the whole game, not just the clubs.

Sounds great. Do you reckon the salary cap might rise, stop players changing codes?

Yeah it's been mentioned a few times they the cap will probably go to around 6 million with the TV rights paying for it all.

That'd help every club and they'd be able to make money instead of losing it.

Fantastic news if it goes ahead. Will it have any implications on the International game?

yeh, there won't be one. Only joking but the big worry everyone has is if clubs vote the commisioners, the commisioners will do what's desired by the clubs. You only have to look at Sth Sydneys attitd to releasing Burgess to see wherethat could lead.

ps NSWRL, QRL etc will still exist, they will just exist to look after jnr and amateur RL in their own State, not have any say in the professional game. There is no way a IC can run the whole game from top to bottom out of Sydney.

Bejaysus but it's been a long time coming, but.

The QRL has to shoulder some of the blame for playing a blocking game, but the Storm events have overshadowed even that. Particularly the proceedings launched by the Storm directors against the NRL.

This more-or-less forced the News Ltd maggots to put their withdrawal on the back-burner until the matter was sorted. Which it now is, via the sacking of most of the Storm directors. Grubby stuff by all concerned, but at least it may bring the inception of the Commission forwards...