JUST when you thought it couldn't get any worse for the NRL management, the game is now embroiled in a dispute with former indigenous legends over their standing in the game.
Former Tigers stars Larry Corowa and Percy Knight have revealed relationships between the game's powerbrokers and indigenous figures have become toxic.
The Daily Telegraph has obtained copies of recent letters Corowa sent to interim CEO Shane Mattiske and Knight sent to commission chairman John Grant.
They complain the ARL Indigenous Council has become an irrelevant part of the game, rarely consulted on issues, even involving the All Stars game.
The former players also want the NRL to separate indigenous affairs from the multi-cultural One Community charity arm.
"We are going to tell you how it is and not sugar coat things like some people do," said Corowa in his letter to Mattiske. "We do not want to come under the One Community banner nor do we want to be linked with the cultural diversity section.
"We are Aboriginal!!! We are first Australians and we want to make our own decisions."
Relationships began to sour after Corowa, Knight and indigenous leaders met NRL officials recently about the All Stars game and other issues.
"People at the NRL are making decisions without consulting us," Corowa said. "We don't want to be seen as just a marketing or PR gimmick.
"I have been saying all along that we need our own Aboriginal RL unit where we the IRL employ our own, make decisions on our own future, pathways and direction. The Indigenous community, staff and supporters are very angry, upset, and in a nutshell pissed off with the NRL."
Both Corowa and Knight have spoken to senior indigenous players including Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis about the situation.
Knight is chairman of the ARL Indigenous Council and a highly respected figure. He is the CEO of a multi-million dollar company and holds masters and honours degrees in science.
"Things are starting to get a little bit toxic with the internal administration at the NRL," Knight said yesterday.
"The indigenous Rugby league Council was established to provide strategic advice. To provide advice in relation to indigenous involvement and participation the council has to be consulted. At the moment that's not happening."
He also wants the indigenous people to have their own standing in the game without being linked to the multicultural One Community.
"The council view is that we're not migrants to this country," he said. "We don't want to be grouped in One Community programs. We need to be our own identity.
"We would rather establish our unit. To provide advice and strategic policy on how indigenous people can be involved. Our council is perceived by non-indigenous people as a token institution. That's got to change. We want to make a proper contribution to the game."
Mattiske last night said he'd meet with Knight in the coming weeks.
"The Commission this year established a clear charter for the council to ensure its place was recognised and the commission sees it as a key strategic priority," Mattiske said.
"Whilst the council is closely aligned with several areas of the game including football operations, marketing and community relations, it still sits separately as a body established by the commission.
"All of the councillors were elected on the basis of the charter that was outlined to them in advance."
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