21 Apr 2012

Gold Coast team backed by ARLC

10:56 am on 21 April 2012

The Australian Rugby League Commission will stand by a National Rugby League team on the Gold Coast.

The commission met in Auckland on Friday where they were handed a report into the Titans, which confirmed there was a strong business case for a team to remain on the holiday strip.

Beleaguered Titans managing director Michael Searle is to be given first crack at saving the financially crippled club.

The Titans were plunged into financial crisis due to a series of failed investments by the group's property arm - most notably the Centre of Excellence.

Also discussed in the meeting at the Warriors' Mt Smart Stadium offices was the issue of international player eligibility, which raised its head this week with New Zealand-born James Tamou's controversial decision to play for Australia.

There have been calls for the Rugby League International Federation to install hard and fast rules to determine eligibility, but in consultation with NZRL officials, the commission said it was vital players retained the right to make decisions about their representative futures.

There was no decision made on the future of the mid-year Test, with the NZRL expressing its desire for the contest to remain.

The commission is under pressure from NRL clubs to scrap the test and City-Country matches to help avoid player burnout.