The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the chief executives, coaches, captains and chairmen of the clubs passed a resolution at a meeting in Sydney declaring unanimous support for the new commission, which they want set up before the start of the new season in March.

“It has been resolved in principle that the 16 NRL clubs here today agree to create and to support an independent commission for the administration of rugby league in Australia,” said Michael Searle chief executive of the Gold Coast club.

“The independent commission would be truly independent from its inception and in accordance with the criteria outlined in today's meeting. It is also desired that the operative date for the establishment of the independent commission is the date of the kick off of the 2010 NRL season or earlier.”
Searle called on the ARL and News Corp-owned News Ltd to begin negotiating the handover of power.