KEY POINTS:
Graham Lowe has put his name forward for a seat on the NZRL board and would be willing to step up to the top job if wanted.
The former Kiwis, Manly and Queensland coach has been put forward by the Ex-Kiwis Association for a place on the NZRL board and it's understood Lowe would have significant support if he was nominated to take over as chairman.
That role is occupied by Andrew Chalmers, who was appointed until the March AGM, after Selwyn Bennett quit on Friday in the aftermath of the Nathan Fien fiasco.
Chalmers' promotion was greeted by disquiet by some who considered he leap-frogged deputy chairman Peter Douglas but he's likely to want to continue in the post. The board made the appointment which would normally be decided by the 15 regions and seven affiliates.
There are widespread moves to force the replacement of the entire NZRL board, with one source saying, "the natives are restless".
There has been unease with the way the NZRL has operated for some time but now see this an opportunity to make significant changes to ensure they get the right people in place and could do this as early as this week.
The NZRL went into lockdown mode last week when the board issued a gagging order on employees. Bennett was ordered to withdraw from the public eye after making what were perceived to be ill-advised comments.
Chalmers tried to smooth the waters with the International Rugby League Federation, sitting in with Bennett and the board lawyers when the penalty for fielding Fien was decided.
It's likely pressure was exerted on Bennett to resign rather than face a vote of no-confidence. His resignation means there are two vacancies on the board, which currently comprises Chalmers, Douglas, Keith Burgess and Bob Haddon.
Lowe was approached six weeks ago about being nominated to take over from Keith Pittman, who resigned in July. Efforts have increased after the events of the past week.
"The Ex-Kiwis have asked me if I would accept their nomination to be elected to the board," Lowe said. "I don't think I could get nominated by a more respected group.
"The events of the last week have encouraged me even more to make the move. I'm quite confident I could add a lot of what's required. We have the coach [to succeed] and we have the players but we have been badly let down by events off the field. A simple thing like appointing a convenor of selectors would have helped avoid what has happened because he would have been held accountable.
"If the game wanted me to be chairman, I would do it - I know I could do it - but if they don't, then that's fine."
The Ex-Kiwis Association has more than 150 members in the Auckland area alone and, as an incorporated society, qualifies to vote on appointments to the NZRL board.
"We were going to wait for the end of the Tri Nations to put Graham forward to fill the vacancy on the board but in light of what has happened, and it's a travesty what has happened, the time is right," association secretary Ray Wilson said.
Lowe is a former part-owner of the Warriors and in more recent times has applied to coach Canberra and Cronulla and take over as Manly's chief executive.
He's not the only one likely to step forward, with the likes of selectors Darrell Williams and Tony Iro understood to be considering an approach.
Other former Kiwis such as Gary Freeman, who has expressed an interest in the past in being NZRL chairman, Gary Kemble and Mark Horo have also been mentioned, while Auckland Rugby League chairman Cameron McGregor could be another candidate.
The NZRL has struggled for credibility in the recent past and there are many who believe that the events of the past week have highlighted the need to replace the present board with people who understand rugby league in the modern professional environment.
Few can question the passion those on the present board have for the game but there are concerns about their skills and abilities.
Chalmers was involved in the Wellington-based Southern Orcas' bid for a place in the expanded NRL (the place went to Gold Coast), while Burgess is a Christchurch publican. Haddon, a player and coach of some standing, is a successful businessman in engineering. Douglas works in sales and marketing for a building suppliers.
"What we need to do is earn the respect of our international partners and we don't have that at the moment," Lowe said. "I have the respect of people in Australia.
"I know I have a lot to offer but that might frighten a few people. I might be a bit strong for some people's liking."
McGregor called for a period of calm but thought change was inevitable.
"There's a democratic process that we have to go through and it's up to Auckland and the rest of the districts to take advantage of this if we feel changes need to be made," he said.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
