Friday Footy Quick Hits

New ARLC CEO David Smith if you wanted to know what he looked like

Even though it’s off season there are some things I want to comment on going on in the world of footy.

First of all the ARLC just announced their new CEO in Lloyds International boss David Smith. Smith is from Wales and has no background in sports administration but is more a traditional business executive type. It remains to be seen how he does in the job, but this hiring says to me that in terms of actual football issues, the ARLC board itself will be the ones making the big calls and Smith will focus on the business side of things. The biggest issue of the new TV deal has already been dealt with, but I can’t imagine Smith is going to be the guy deciding on issues like the shoulder charge.

Speaking of the shoulder charge, the decision to ban it has been greeted with near unanimous disappointment and disagreement. Whilst as a fan I agree with the players, fans and media who are upset we are losing one of the most entertaining aspects of the game, I also have been following all the research coming out of the USA on the real impact of concussions. The NRL are choosing to make a decision now, before they start dealing with the issues the NFL faces of players having serious brain damage after their careers. I don’t like it, but I do get it and so I’m not going to hate on the decision like most. I might have more of an issue with it once referees and the judiciary start their near-certain inconsistency policing and punishing it.

Another issue that I’m commenting on simply because I feel like it’s not in the news enough is the situation at the Tigers. Everything I hear suggests that the Tigers development is not going to get approved and once that happens the Tigers are going to be in serious, serious trouble. Like “goodbye Tigers” level trouble. By 2014 I think we are actually likely to see the Tigers part of the joint venture fold and welcome back the Western Suburbs Magpies, who are just waiting to take over the licence the way Manly did when the Bears folded. It’s not even impossible that this could occur before the start of next season, depending on how quickly we get an answer on the development. How is this not a bigger story already?

Finally, with $onny Bill Williams now officially a Rooster, at least for a season, and with Quade Cooper quitting rugby, wouldn’t surprise me to see the Roosters do everything in their power to bring Cooper across to Bondi Junction. Given the money he will command however, they might end up paying about a third of their salary cap to just two players. Risky business for two guys who aren’t exactly durable or reliable as humans. If he doesn’t end up there, he might replace Thurston in Townsville if JT skips town.