Graeme Samuel, a former AFL commissioner and head of ACCC, will not stand for re-election at the ARLC's annual general meeting in February and CSR boss Jeremy Sutcliffe has already tendered his resignation, despite his term not expiring.

The NRL yesterday confirmed both departures.

Fairfax Media has been told Samuel's disenchantment with rugby league decision-making began with the sale, by former chief executive, Dave Smith, of broadcasting rights to Channel Nine and his disillusionment has continued with the demand by NRL clubs and state leagues for funding to be diverted away from grassroots development. Samuel is a strong advocate of rugby league's expansion into developing states.

Sutcliffe offered his resignation to Grant 12 months ago, citing the demands of travel, but was encouraged to remain on the eight-person commission.

Suggestions that Cathy Harris, the only female commissioner, would resign have been denied, with insiders claiming she is very loyal to Grant.

The decisions by Samuel and Sutcliffe to resign were made ahead of the clandestine meeting of the boards of the NSWRL and QRL in Brisbane on Monday at which they reached agreement on a joint demand for a representative each on the ARLC.

Should the NRL clubs also be successful in having two representatives on a proposed nine-person commission, the balance between independents and dependents would be five to four.

This is an unsatisfactory model for those promoting impartiality, particularly non-Sydney clubs who are fearful of the influence of the strong duo of chairmen on the board of the NSWRL – the Roosters Nick Politis and the Bulldogs Ray Dib.

Samuel's loss is significant. He played a major role in the evolution of a loss-making, archaic VFL into the AFL's position as the premier sporting code in the nation.

A former AFL executive commissioner, Ross Oakley, cited Samuel in his book The Phoenix Rises as the most influential individual in the move from a state-based competition run by Melbourne clubs to a truly independent commission.

Unlike the ARLC, which bans anyone joining the board who has held a position in rugby league over the previous three years, the AFL regularly drafts retiring club chairmen onto its commission.

The removal of an AFL commissioner required 50 per cent of the clubs to agree.

However, the NSWRL and QRL, together with many of the NRL clubs, demand direct representation.

The resignations of Samuel and Sutcliffe may negate the need to increase the number of commissioners to nine.

Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas has strong support from non-Sydney clubs and was a member of the NSW party which travelled to Brisbane on Monday.

Significantly, Pappas is not a board member of the NSWRL and has often been at odds with Politis and Dib.

A lawyer, Pappas played a significant role in the drafting of the current ARLC constitution.

Should he be drafted onto the ARLC, it is expected he would be forced to resign as chairman of Souths.

A December meeting of NRL clubs and the NSWRL deferred a decision on the future of Grant to March 1, when it is expected a review of the ARLC constitution will have been tabled by AOC chair and lawyer John Coates.

Some NRL club chairmen expect a working party to then be appointed to review Coates' recommendations, with Pappas playing a leading role.

While the loss of Samuel and Sutcliffe makes Grant's position increasingly untenable, there is no obvious, independent alternative, unless the ARLC's ambitious chief executive Todd Greenberg puts himself forward as executive chairman!