ARL gives up stake

On the eve of the 2010 NRL season, the Australian Rugby League has announced it will release control of its stake in the game to allow the long-anticipated independent commission to form.

The Australian Rugby League will join partner News Ltd in walking away from the NRL after 12 years in charge.

An eight-person commission will take control in an historic move for the code.

ARL chairman Colin Love said the commission would represent a key step forward in the future of the game:

"The ARL believes that the in-principle agreement arrived at today will deliver a truly independent commission to run rugby league," Love said.

"There is still a huge amount of detail to be worked through but today's agreement is a major step in the process."

"Both partners have committed to regular meetings to work through each of the points that will need to be discussed and the complex legal agreements that are involved."

"People need to understand the there is still a lot of work ahead."

The commission will be a not-for-profit entity including the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues as well as the 16 clubs.