NRL boss David Gallop yesterday confirmed he will meet with Wagga City Council (WCC)?next week to discuss the contentious $300,000 deal with AFL newcomer GWS.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Responding to a community uproar which attracted national media coverage, Gallop will arrive in the city on Wednesday to take up the issue with WCC.
Although controversy has simmered in the sporting community since council announced the GWS deal last week, the issue remains on the NRL’s agenda. The Daily Advertiser website was bombarded with 137 comments from Wagga residents, the majority of which expressed outrage at council’s decision to provide GWS with $300,000 of funding over the next three years.
Gallop’s media manager John Brady yesterday confirmed the appointment.
“He is going to Wagga, very much on the basis of last week’s events,” Brady said yesterday.
“We said we’d like the opportunity to talk through these issues with council and he’s doing exactly what he said he would do.
“David has some things to say after the events of last week and he thought it would be good to have the discussion with council.”
Gallop’s commitment to question WCC about funding in exchange for GWS pre-season games and clinics has highlighted the seriousness of the issue within the NRL and other sporting organisations.
Although he could confirm the visit, Brady said he could not comment on any outcomes Gallop could expect from the meeting.
“It’s too early to go into that part of it,” he said.
“I can’t give you much more detail than that at this stage.”
However, mayor Kerry Pascoe yesterday said he expects Gallop to discuss partnership options between WCC and the NRL.
“I would say basically he wants to discuss this deal with GWS,” Cr Pascoe said.
“I think he thinks it’s worthwhile them sitting down with us and working out a partnership to nurture rugby league in this area.
“It’s pretty handy to have someone like David Gallop on our side.
“It’s worthwhile looking at working with them.”
Wednesday’s visit will mark the second time Gallop has visited the city since 2007 during the construction of Equex Centre.
