So as we await with interest the PNGRFLs statement regarding Gateshead Thunder and Stanley Gene signing four PNG players - one from NSWRL, one from the Digicel Cup, and two from the Hunters - here are some issues which I think need our consideration. These are my personal observations of how things have been administered in 2014 - and there are some questions that we should be worried about - and they all revolve around how the current CEO, Brad Tassell, appears to be wearing more than one hat when it comes to the administration of PNGRFL and the Hunters. In my experience - these observations and their associated implications naturally cause unwanted friction in any organization - and we may be witnessing some of these symptoms already as indicative of a number of former Hunters players moving on. These are my procedural observations and examples: 1) Brad Tassell is the CEO for PNGRFL. Should he also be the CEO for the Hunters? It is highly unlikely that you will find a CEO of the QRL or NSWRL also being the CEO or managing director of a rugby league franchise. There is a strong case for the Hunters to have an independent CEO with his/her focus being solely on the Hunters. The PNGRFL CEOs focus should arguably be on developing the domestic game in PNG. 2) Brad Tassell is the key media spokesperson for the Hunters. He conducts interviews, receives media requests, and holds press conferences. Although this is not entirely out of the CEOs scope of traditional responsibilities - Tassell does appear to disproportionately control the majority of media interest in the Hunters. Usually, media interest in players and matches are directed to the coach - not the CEO. The CEO usually comments on media content related to the organisation, player welfare, coach issues, club issues, and directives from the board. Although media is a shared role between CEO and coach - as stated above - Tassell has perhaps controlled media interest in the Hunters far beyond the scope of a CEO thus far. 3) Brad Tassell is the key contact person in regards to Hunters Marketing. This one is quite unusual and its to do with Tassell being the direct person of contact when it comes to promotional events for the Hunters. E.g: The 2014 PMXIII Gala Dinner in Kokopo - all Hunters marketing for the event listed a contact email address and phone number - that of Brad Tassell. This has so far been the case for the Hunters. Its highly unusual for a CEO to be personally responsible for the marketing of an event - that is usually left to a Marketing Manager. 4) Brad Tassell appears to also play a more direct role in the representation of players by agents and representatives. Im not an expert on player agents and how that administratively functions - but its quite obvious that good governance dictates that there should exist a degree of independence between the CEO and players agents and players representatives. Why? Because the CEO of a rugby league club arguably has separate interests than that of a players agent - one is concerned about the welfare of the club, which includes player retention; the other is concerned about the welfare of the individual player - two quite distinct agendas. 5) There are also some questions about staffing personnel that Brad Tassell has around him. It is public knowledge that Jason Tassell also has a role with the team. Now - Im not asserting anything here but the obvious question of whether a conflict of interest exists administratively. There are many examples in rugby league of siblings working for the same rugby league club - perhaps even examples of one sibling employing another (presumably, this is the case with the Hunters, the CEO employing the trainer with the support of the Board.). Again - the intent of this last point is to simply raise the possibility of a conflict of interest administratively. I trust that the Board has conducted its due diligence - but with any organisation that has siblings involved in positions in the same organisation - questions will naturally arise from those of us not in the know - and this is one of them. NOTE: The above points are administrative issues which I have observed within the Hunters 2014 programme - and as they are stated - they are simply my opinion as how I view things as an outsider not involved with the PNGRFL or the Hunters - and nothing more.. I think any commentary about these points need to be stated fairly and debated appropriately. However difficult it may be, the issues identified need to be the focus of any debate - and not the individual persons concerned. The Hunters programme has been the recipient of money from the PNG Government - that is taxpayers money. Our money. And like any other organisation receiving taxpayers money - the Hunters programme is no exception to public scrutiny. Perhaps, the answers to these questions may be simple - or they may be complex - and they most likely should be answered by the PNGRFL Board. Nonetheless, I believe PNG rugby league supporters - as a key stakeholder in the game in PNG and abroad - have a role to play in regards to the good governance of our game.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 07:52:27 +0000
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