Worst decision ever: PVL's executive chairman push criticised

When Andrew Abdo announced his departure as NRL CEO after six years in the top job, ARLC Chairman Peter V’Landys declared they needed Superman and Jesus to replace him.

But having served in the role in an interim capacity for the last three months, it appears the Racing NSW chief executive will combine Abdo's role with his own to become the competition’s first executive chairman, which Peter Fegan warns could be the NRL’s worst decision.

In recent days, it’s been reported that V’Landys has received backing from some ARL Commissioners and key officials in clubland that would see him combine his role as ARLC Chairman with the vacant CEO position.

This is despite a clause within the NRL’s constitution stating the CEO cannot be named a director/member of the ARLC board.

But in clause 53 within the same document, it does allow the NRL’s directors to create positions with similar powers to their own, which allows the creation of an executive chairman.

Should it go ahead, this would allow V’Landys to run the competition with little interference, which leaves Fegan concerned.

“First and foremost, Peter V'Landys (is) fantastic for rugby league and what he's achieving,” Fegan told SENQ Breakfast.

“But this is the worst decision, I think, by the NRL ever.

“Because having a CEO in place and separate from what Peter V'Landys is doing with the ARL Commission means that you can have someone that can disagree with Peter V'Landys.

“I've had a lot to do with Pete over the years and I know his style of work and it's kind of what he says goes, which works, right?

“But you need somebody in a position that can disagree with Peter V’Landys and have a different point of view.

“Now it's just gonna be the Peter V’Landys show, and whatever he comes up with, i.e. the six again, which I think's ruining the game, no one can disagree with him.”

Corey Parker shared a similar sentiment, believing the competition needs to be careful when it comes to its decision.

“There'll be a games committee that can disagree with him,” Parker said.

“I think they do need to be careful in that space. It can't just be the PVL show.

“But a lot of the things that we're seeing in the game right now have a lot to do with PVL.

“So there needs to be some people around him and some committees, and there will be that can challenge him and somewhat override a PVL.”