Politis, Peponis quit NSWRL board over election dispute
By Michael Chammas
February 25, 2022 — 5.56pmThe NSWRL is in tatters after the sudden resignation of two of the game’s most respected figures, director Nick Politis and chairman George Peponis, over a controversial boardroom stoush.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has vowed to investigate the NSWRL board election if a complaint is made about the state’s decision to block Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta from running for a position.
The battle for power at the NSWRL has divided the organisation, with Mezzatesta blocked from running for election on the board because of an alleged conflict of interest.
Sources with knowledge of the situation say the incident has infuriated Peponis and Politis, who are believed to have resigned as a result of the treatment of Mezzatesta. The pair were also unhappy that Deborah Healy, the only female director on the NSWRL board, lost her position yesterday to William “Smiley” Johnstone as part of the rationalisation of the NSWRL and Country Rugby League boards following their amalgamation in 2019.
“I’m disappointed but I feel like I can leave the organisation having achieved a lot,” Peponis told the Herald after almost a decade in the top job.
“We have won three of the last four Origins. We amalgamated with the Country Rugby League to make one state body. We’ve grown female participation, introduced the women’s competition and built a centre of excellence that is the benchmark of sport in this country.
“I was only going to stay on for a couple more years anyway because I feel we have achieved what I wanted to achieve. I’m not leaving having not achieved anything.“
The NSWRL held its annual general meeting on Friday afternoon, with Geoff Gerard and Politis re-elected unopposed despite strong support for Mezzatesta to take a position. Politis later resigned, meaning there are now no representatives on the board who are directly affiliated with an NRL club.
“I don’t agree with the way they treated George and the way to whole election process went down,” Politis said.
“There’s still a question mark on whether what the board did was legally correct and whether they had the right to override the constitution.”
The boardroom battle could now spill over to the NRL, with V’landys expected to reconsider funding of the NSWRL if it is found it has not followed proper procedure.
“If someone complains to us, we’ll certainly investigate them,” V’landys said. “Corporate governance is paramount in any organisation. Any organisation that we fund, if someone complains about corporate governance of that organisation, we will investigate it. I’m not sure if we have the power over these organisations but we fund them.”
Mezzatesta nominated for the board on January 20, but the NSWRL waited until 48 hours out from voting to notify him that he was ineligible to run due to an alleged conflict of interest.
The NSWRL claims he is ineligible to run because he is a paid employee of an affiliated club. It’s understood Mezzatesta denies there is a conflict and has sought legal advice.
Sources with knowledge of the constitution said independent directors aren’t allowed to be employees of a club, however there is no such restrictions imposed on elected nominees.
The potential election of Mezzatesta could have spelt trouble for chief executive Dave Trodden, who is understood to have lost the support of Peponis and Politis.
The re-election of Gerard, however, is expected to safeguard Trodden’s future.
Sources with knowledge of Friday’s annual general meeting said Mezzatesta intervened when it was announced that he was ineligible.
He then asked the chair to note the events that took place from the day he nominated on January 20.
Peponis noted it and agreed to look into the matter further before returning to Mezzatesta with an answer.
When contacted by the Herald on Friday, Mezzatesta acknowledged the chair would look into the matter and was awaiting a response. He declined to comment on whether he would be taking legal action against the NSWRL.
“I’m not prepared to make any comments until such time when I know what the NSWRL position is,” he said.
