The NRL has backed St George Illawarra's long-term vision by not imposing the same management revamps it has forced on other clubs who have leant on the governing body for financial assistance.
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The Dragons, Newcastle, Wests Tigers and more recently the Titans have all needed NRL funding. But unlike their counterparts, St George Illawarra's board has been largely untouched. It is understood the NRL believes the Dragons management – headed by chief executive Peter Doust – is independent and skilful enough to take the club forward.
The NRL has pushed for a female representative to be added to the board at some stage but would not confirm how much money it leant the Dragons. The NRL indicated there was a tight reporting regime in place to ensure funds are spent appropriately.
"The NRL had to step in and make changes at the Tigers, Titans and Knights to help secure their future," an NRL spokesman said. "The issues facing those clubs extended beyond the need for financial assistance. In the case of the Dragons, the NRL is working with the club on a longer-term plan. The plan involves appropriate business restructuring and ongoing, measurable accountability for the club."
The Dragons put forward their plan for sustainability to the NRL commission, in 2013. The NRL supports the Dragons' "right game right venue strategy", which has seen home games taken away from their Wollongong and Kogarah heartland and into bigger stadiums at Moore Park and Sydney Olympic Park.
Part of the pitch included a roadmap for membership growth and emphasis on junior development.
At the Tigers, a fractured Magpies/Balmain board remained deadlocked, making the joint venture dysfunction and unable to progress. The NRL appointed three independent board members at the Tigers, including chairwoman Marina Go. The NRL also has two "stakeholder" delegates – Peter Shear and Phil Gardner – at the Knights after revamping the board. The NRL bailed out the Knights following the end of mining magnate Nathan Tinkler's disastrous tenure at the club. The NRL felt it had little choice but to take control before Tinkler or the club fell over.
The Dragons have a convoluted board structure. Members only have voting rights for St George and/or Steelers leagues club with some of those board of directors appointed to the respective St George and Illawarra football clubs. Some are then appointed to the Dragons board. Doust, Craig Young and Bruce Spaul are up for re-election next year after Warren Lockwood, Brain Johnston and Ralph Piggott were elected unopposed earlier in March.
The Dragons said they were exploring changes. "The board and management also understand that the conjecture about the Dragons' business plan, transitional financial management to sustainability and profitability and overall governance structures, have also been receiving criticism," the Dragons said in a statement last week. "Our partnership with the NRL indicates the NRL commission's support of the Dragons board and management, however, the board is presently reviewing its governance model. Equity partners, independent directors, community representation are all elements of our ongoing review."
