Rugby League Urged to Shift Mindset Following ‘Leadership Void’

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Rugby league has been urged to adopt a new approach as it recovers from a ‘leadership vacuum’ – by the individual at the helm.

Listening to some voices, especially following England’s Ashes whitewash, one might be tempted to wonder, ‘What’s the point?’

With clubs facing closure or entering administration, a TV deal significantly reduced in size, and turmoil at the amateur level, the pessimists have ample reasons to sound alarms.

However, Abi Ekoku, interim chief executive of the Rugby Football League, asserts that a ‘woe is me’ mentality will benefit no one.

He acknowledges that some staff feel ‘traumatized’ and that his predecessor, Tony Sutton, left a significant void in leadership.

He stated: “There’s often an oversensitivity within the game, stemming from our geographic limitations.

“A club goes under. You know what? Clubs fail in every sport. If what occurred in rugby union a few years ago happened in rugby league, that would be an existential crisis.

“The game is on its last legs and it’s never going to survive. Even this year, there have been discussions of disasters and other issues.

“But this sport has been around for 130 years for a reason. The game has always faced challenges, but every sport does.

“It’s all about perspective. Are these challenges opportunities? Or do they represent a broader threat? Yes, we experience fragility since individual elements are keeping clubs afloat. But tell me, which professional sport isn’t in the same position?

“We need to foster a sense of self-confidence in our identity and resources. We should enhance our presence and reconsider how we conduct ourselves.”

Ekoku’s position is perceived by some as a support for his colleague Nigel Wood’s return following a club-led upheaval at the top of rugby league.

Nonetheless, changes are underway as the 13-a-side code can rise from ‘the weeds,’ as he aspires to implement lessons learned during his playing career at Bradford.

If that entails granting clubs greater autonomy, so be it.

The brother of former Premier League striker Efan remarked: “Operationally, the staff in the organization have been somewhat traumatized. Some individuals have really risen to the occasion and embraced new responsibilities.

“They’re absorbing additional work and addressing a bit of the leadership vacuum left by the previous board, which we inherited.

“This situation has necessitated putting some ambitious plans on hold temporarily to focus on the fundamentals of running the business and rebuilding confidence in a committed manner.

“It takes time to emerge from the weeds, and that’s where we currently stand.

“There was a man who used to entertain in Bradford named Dave King. He was difficult, but he was brilliant.

“He once said, ‘Remember, no one has a monopoly on good ideas. The people who clean the stands on a Sunday night after a game notice things you might miss.’

“He emphasized the importance of stepping outside and engaging with everyone connected to the business and the sport because each person has something valuable to contribute.

“I haven’t ventured out of the bunker very often yet, but that is the plan, and we are guiding clubs through areas where they don’t necessarily need assistance.”