Sharks urged to go the Rabbitohs way

South Sydney chairman Nick Pappas has urged Cronulla to follow the Russell
Crowe-Peter Holmes a Court model as the cash-strapped Sharks seek private investment
to stay afloat in the NRL.
Pappas says the 25 per cent stake that members have in the Rabbitohs, who were
privatised in 2006, as well as their rights over the team's colours, logo, name and
location, would be an ideal model for Cronulla to consider.
Souths are 75 per cent owned by Hollywood actor Crowe and businessman Holmes a Court.
"Private equity is never an easy decision and that's why we came up with a concept
that blends private ownership with public ownership, in other words the members
still have an interest," Pappas told AAP on Friday.
"We never wanted to go completely private and that's why members still have
significant rights here.
"If (Cronulla) can come up with a model that blends both private investment and the
members still having rights, I think that's the way to go.
"I think the way of the world, not the way of clubs in rugby league, but the way of
the world is private ownership but it's a question in rugby league.
"Rugby league has a long tradition of members having rights so you can't totally
exclude members because if you do so you do it at your own peril."
The Sharks are desperate to find a way out of their dire financial situation, with
debts of reportedly $11 million.
On Thursday the NRL refused to financially support a proposal from Cronulla to play
five home games for the next five years on the Central Coast.
Sharks boss Tony Zappia said he would be knocking on the doors of potential investors.
Premiers Manly have a similar ownership model to Souths, with Max Delmege and the
Penn family each owning 40 per cent and the other 20 per cent in the hands of a
supporters club.
Pappas was speaking as Souths announced the signing of former Test backrower Michael
Crocker, using the occasion to talk up the Rabbitohs' achievements since the $3
million sell-off.
He said the club had the highest sponsorship revenue and membership in the NRL.
"That all goes back to the events of the 19th of March 2006 when our loyal members
made the very brave decision to welcome private investment to our club ... and that
decision has really underpinned everything we've done ever since," he said.
Meanwhile, the NRL has refused to comment on a resurfacing allegation of sexual
misconduct against media personality and former player Matthew Johns.
Johns is the face of the league's membership drive, appearing in its television
advertisement.
The NRL has already re-edited one TV ad this year to remove Manly's Brett Stewart,
who has pleaded not guilty to a sexual assault charge.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said he was yet to view the Four Corners program
which will air the comments of a woman who says she is psychologically scarred after
having group sex with Cronulla players in 2002.
The players were cleared by police at the time.
In another development, Karen Willis of the Rape Crisis Centre, who counsels NRL
players, said Johns should have apologised when he made his statement on the matter
on Thursday night.
"We have a young woman who has been seriously injured and damaged by this," Willis
told the Ten Network.
"She needs every ounce of an apology."
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who has employed Johns as an assistant at the Storm,
said on Friday: "I think he's paid his price personally and it should be left at
that".