Rugby League: D-Day decision on league test venue

By PETER JESSUP

A possible change of venue for the year's only league test - against the world champion Kangaroos - set for July 13 at Wellington's Cake Tin will dominate discussion at a NZ Rugby League board meeting today.

Outgoing chairman Gerald Ryan is worried that the venue will not be full and that the cost of putting on the game will slice into the league's budgeted profit.

There is also an Australian request for a $200,000 guarantee for playing.

Ryan said the Ericsson and North Harbour stadiums in Auckland had the capability to return profits of around $200,000 to the NZRL after costs.

"The Australians have shown what they think of this by booking a hotel in Auckland," he said.

The board allocated the test to Wellington subject to a sound and profitable business plan that will be considered today.

Wellington board member Bernie Wood said the plan indicated a profit of $500,000 before team expenses were deducted - but only if a good-sized crowd showed up.

The budget, prepared by Wellington chief executive Rodney Moore, predicts that a return of $1 million on a full house of 34,500 would meet the Australian request and return a similar amount to the NZRL.

At 75 per cent crowd capacity, or 27,000, a profit was still predicted.

The last league test held in Wellington was the double-header weekend with the All Blacks at Athletic Park in 1990. A crowd of 27,000 saw the Kiwis lose 6-24.

The Cake Tin has been attracting average crowds of 23,000 across all events, although nine of the 10 full houses have been for rugby.

Ryan said he had asked the NZRL's financial advisers to look at the plan for the game in Wellington. That report would also be handed over today.

Six of the 18 district leagues were not, as of yesterday, paid up and/or in compliance with the NZRL constitution in terms of presenting audited accounts and a new-season budget.

Those six will not be allowed to vote for the new chairman unless they comply before the meeting.

Auckland lawyer Mark Wells will be returning officer to head off the expected disputes.

There are four candidates for chairman - Wood, Dr Wayne Morris of Dunedin, Joe Deacon of Waikato, and Auckland chairman Selwyn Pearson. Voting is expected to come down to Morris versus Pearson, with the latter the favourite.

There are eight candidates for two places on the five-man board.

Wells has already been asked to look into an allegation laid by one candidate that another had offered to pay money to a district association in return for their vote.

The NZRL board will also consider bad news from England today. The World Cup organisers have hauled in their profit predictions as the bills roll in. The NZRL hold a written guarantee of a $1 million return.

"We spent accordingly, paid bonuses to players and so on, and it now looks like it's going to cost us $300,000," Ryan said.

The league may join Australia, who are in the same boat, in legal action.