Beattie desperate to change 'nuts' ARLC rule before replacing Coyne

ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie has slammed a "nuts" rule which disqualifies anyone associated with an NRL club within the last year three years from joining the commission.

Following news Mark Coyne has offered his resignation from the ARLC, all eyes have turned to who will fill the vacant slot left by the St George Illawarra and Queensland great.

Finding the right person to replace Coyne will take time, according to Beattie, and that is largely because the chairman wants to scrap the current rule which eliminates a big chunk of candidates who would otherwise be fit for the role.

"What we are doing is excluding a whole lot of talented people from sitting on the commission," Beattie said on Sunday.

"They would have to leave the club they’re with so I want to talk to the leaders of the game about possibly changing that rule."

Beattie has already tried and failed to scrap the rule.

This time around, he is determined to have his way.

"I don’t believe people who are associated with clubs ought to be excluded. Of course they would have to leave their club but we want the best and brightest on our commission," he said.

"The current rule is nuts.

"Think about it. I can’t change it - it is up to the clubs and states to change it but I am indicating publicly I want to have a discussion about changing it.

"This is an area I have failed in. I have tried to do this and I failed before.

"I may fail again but my job as chair is to face all those difficult decisions and try to find solutions to them.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I am not afraid to lose if I think I am doing the right thing."

If Beattie has his way and the rule is scrapped, many more suitable candidates would become available, providing they were willing to leave their current roles with clubs.

The chairs of Souths, Melbourne and North Queensland - Nick Pappas, Bart Campbell and Laurence Lancini, respectively - would all be natural candidates.

Broncos board member Darren Lockyer has also been raised as a potential option, as has former Knights powerbroker John Quayle.

I think you would expect us to do this properly and we will.

All five of the names mentioned above would be ruled ineligible should Beattie be unsuccessful in his bid to overturn the current eligibilty rules.

In the space of 24 hours, Beattie has already been flooded with potential candidates outside of those currently deemed ineligible.

"There are a number of eager, enthusiastic people out there," he said.

"Which is encouraging in a way and they’re good people.

"But as I said, we need to take our time with this and we need to consult all the other commissioners.

"Yes, we have had people who have put their hands up and I thank them for their consideration.

"It is out of no discourtesy to them that I am taking my time but I think you would expect us to do this properly and we will."

As Beattie works the phones to change the rule and find the next commissioner, Coyne will keep a low profile.

He stepped down despite having a "slight majority" of support from club chairs to continue.

"Mark took the view - and I support him for doing this - he wanted the support of all the clubs and he didn't," Beattie said.

"He had the support of the majority of clubs but not all the clubs. He took the view that wasn't good for the game and he put his own interest second to rugby league. Let me be clear. It was his decision after a very sensible, constructive, frank discussion."

Coyne also declined an offer from Beattie to continue his role on the grassroots committee and join the competition committee.

"He would obviously like to stand aside for a while but I hope he is not lost to the game long-term," Beattie said.