From The Sunday Star Times :
https://stuff.co.nz/print/3973304a6444.html
The unsuccessful defence of the Nathan Fien "Grannygate" affair cost the New Zealand Rugby League a whopping $88,000 - and the league's bill for legal and accounting services in the past few months is now more than $200,000.
The NZRL forked out for extensive legal representation to argue against losing points in last year's Tri-Nations series after selecting the ineligible Fien for the Kiwis but still had two points deducted as punishment.
Former NZRL chairman Selwyn Bennett, who resigned in the wake of "Grannygate", blamed his replacement, the league's interim chairman Andrew Chalmers, for the bill. "I wanted to put my hand up then and say we had done it (made a mistake)," said Bennett. "We were going to get what we got anyway but he (Chalmers) had (hired) three lawyers and a QC."
Bennett said a governance review of the sport by PricewaterhouseCoopers commissioned by Chalmers had cost "six figures" and he expected a large amount had also been spent on a review of the game's constitution by lawyer Stephen Franks. "He won't be doing it for bugger all".
Bennett last night said he was considering standing again for chairman as a power struggle develops for control of the sport.
He said he had been asked to run against Chalmers at the league's forthcoming annual meeting. "A few have asked me to stand ... but do you stand or do you enjoy life? I haven't made a decision one way or another."
It's understood key movers in the Auckland Rugby League are searching for a viable candidate to oppose Chalmers.
The NZRL's districts and affiliates convene next weekend for a special general meeting to vote on adopting the rewritten constitution - a meeting now shaping as a major skirmish in the battle for power between Chalmers' modernising agenda and league's traditional administrators.
As for the Fien thing, it's over get over it and move on.
