Rebel six put a gun to head of sport, says Leeds chief

Plans to restructure the domestic game in England were thwarted when six Super League clubs – including Yorkshire sides Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC and Hull KR – walked out of a meeting in Leeds.

That walk-out of a meeting of Super League (Europe), which was discussing plans to cut the number of top-flight clubs from 14 to 12 for 2015, prevented a vote being taken on a subject which has split the sport.

It sparked a furious response from Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington who said the rebel clubs were “putting a gun to the head of the sport, making selfish self interested demands.”

“I have been attending Super League meetings for 17 years and I have never seen anything like this before,” said Rhinos’ Hetherington. “It’s appalling that a small number of men can disrupt a proper process by putting a gun to the head of the sport, making selfish self interested demands.

“Every Rugby League fan should be concerned with what these people are doing.

“They, along with every Championship club, and the majority of Super League clubs are paralysed whilst these six men flex their muscles.”

Yesterday’s meeting followed a decision to postpone a meeting of the Rugby Football League council a fortnight ago after a majority of Super League clubs, led by Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan, forced a re-think on the governing body’s re-organisation plans.

Yesterday, the six ‘rebels’ blocked a decision, arguing that any debate on change should only take place alongside a review of the competition’s commercial management and governance.

Lenagan has made it clear that he would like to see Super League clubs have a greater say in both the running of the game and the distribution of television income.

The actions of Lenagan and company – which also included Warrington Wolves and Catalan Dragons – were also condemned by Super League (Europe) chairman Barwick, the former Football Association chief executive, who is also chairman of the RFL.

“It is very disappointing that we were unable to take a vote on such important issues because some clubs chose to leave the room and refuse to participate further,” Barwick said.

“In many ways this form of action is unprecedented. These proposals would have had a positive impact on the whole sport but they were halted by a minority of clubs.

“Clearly some of the clubs have deep-rooted issues and between us we have to find a way of resolving our differences for the benefit of both Super League and the wider game. It is my view that this was a very unsatisfactory way for the six clubs to demonstrate their frustration.”

Just 48 hours before the launch of the 2013 World Cup, it is a headline-grabbing story which threatens to steal some of the attention away from the tournament.

The decision to axe Gareth Hock from Steve McNamara’s England squad has also not helped build up a feel-good mood after last weekend’s humiliating defeat to Italy.

The second-row was replaced by Huddersfield’s Brett Ferres for what the England management called “serious breaches” of team discipline.

Yesterday, former Wigan star Hock revealed he – along with several other England players – broke an alcohol ban after Saturday’s defeat to Italy, and then overslept the next day meaning he missed a swimming session on Sunday morning.

“A few of the boys went out for a few drinks, then went out to get a bite to eat and came back,” said Hock.

“I slept in. I missed a 10-minute swim and 10-minute medical check-up.

“We were told ‘no drinking’ until after the Australian game but we were a bit disappointed about the loss and a few of us had a few drinks.

“I agree that it was wrong and we shouldn’t have had a drink but there were six or seven of us and we all did the same things and I don’t agree with how he’s done it.

“I’m really gutted because I was really looking forward to playing in the World Cup and I’ve put a lot of effort into it. Just for missing a 10-minute swim, I think it’s out of order really.”

Hock, who was given a two-year ban in 2009 after testing positive for cocaine, said he spoke out because of the lack of detail included in the brief statement issued by England on Tuesday night.

The statement claimed Hock’s behaviour had “fallen below the strict code of conduct as agreed by team management”.

Hock, who was told by McNamara not to return to camp in Loughborough on Monday evening, revealed that he reacted angrily to the news of his expulsion from the World Cup squad.

He added: “I blew up a bit and said ‘there were six of us’ and he said ‘they will be getting disciplined as well.’

“Afterwards, I found out it was only me being taken out of the squad for doing the same things as they have done.”