The NSW Supreme Court has today confirmed the Australian Rugby League Commission’s position that Cronulla Sutherland Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta was invalidly prevented from standing in the NSWRL Board elections.
It also rejected the NSWRL’s position that the ARLC was in breach of any of its obligations and the Commission is within its rights to withhold funding.
The Commission will review the Judge’s findings in detail before determining the next course of action.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the court proceedings brought on by the NSWRL was a waste of funds that would be better used improving grassroots and country rugby league.
“The Commission received a complaint from multiple clubs that Dino should not have been disqualified from the board elections. We acted on that complaint and the court has found today that Dino should not have been disqualified,’’ he said.
“What today’s outcome shows is that the whole case was a waste of money that should be being spent on country and junior rugby league,’’ he said.
“For NSWRL to say the verdict is in its favour misstates the outcome and shows a lack of understanding of the full judgment provided. Dino should never have been disqualified. The Commission’s view remains that this is a serious error by the board of NSWRL and management and that error has been confirmed by the court.”
