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Key rugby league figures have supported Sir John Anderson's decision not to name names or pursue a witchhunt over allegations made in the Sparc report into mismanagement of the sport.
"The Department of Internal Affairs and the Serious Fraud Office have been through the place and they didn't take anyone to court," the Auckland Rugby League chairman Cameron McGregor said of the national governing body.
"There is no question we needed accountability and credibility back in the game. But it is all in the past now and we have to look forward."
Sir John Anderson had said when releasing the report that he had found no evidence of criminality - rather financial mismanagement and financial incompetence.
Former chairman Gerald Ryan also backed the approach of Sparc and NZRL. "The game has been tearing itself apart for years," he said.
"Let's hope this is a new beginning."
But league's ambassador and former Kiwis manager Peter "The Mad Butcher" Leitch said he did not agree with the decision not to pursue the allegations.
"I'm disappointed they didn't point the finger more because it leaves everyone under a cloud of suspicion."
Leitch said the urgent need now was for a dynamic chief executive. "The game is big business now. It has to be run more smartly."
Leitch said he was disappointed that little has been done to lever the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns World Cup triumphs into the public arena. "We've had a great opportunity and not enough has been done to promote the game."
Little effort had been made to market replica jerseys and while the Cup is touring Auckland schools this week, it was barely promoted.
Former Kiwis could be used to tour the Cup around the country and promote the NZRLs competitions and help player recruitment.
Leitch said he loved the game and would always continue to support it and would display the Cup at the Mangere East club's junior muster on Saturday morning.
One daunting factor will remain unchanged for the NZRL and its ability to extend the game: unlike rugby, netball and cricket, where the national body contracts national team players, the bulk of league's talent earn their money overseas.
And while it would appear obvious that the world champions could attract top opposition to play here, crowd numbers to Kiwi-Kangaroos tests in Auckland and Wellington have failed to get near the 50,000-plus tickets sold in Brisbane for recent games between the two nations.
