# Go’s parting shot at NRL
MARCH 13, 2019
Outgoing Wests Tigers chair Marina Go has fired a parting shot at the NRL, claiming she felt disrespected during her time as an NRL club executive.
Go announced last week she would leave the position she has held since 2014, replaced by former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell.
In a frank admission during Fox League’s fan forum *League Life: Taking Back The Game* , Go said the NRL has some way to go to meet the progress made in the corporate world in the area of women in leadership.
“Yeah, look, it happens a lot,” Go said when asked whether she felt her voice wasn’t considered as important. “I was one of two female chairs in a group of 16, and there were many times negotiating with the NRL I had to negotiate through one of the men, because that’s just how I could get my view across.
“It’s not unusual. The business community has moved a little bit more forward, but still it’s a challenge, it’s always been a challenge for a woman in leadership.”
ARL commissioner Megan Davis is spearheading a review into NRL culture, and Go expects the issue to feature prominently in her findings.
“Hopefully it will cause the leadership to look at strategies to bring more women into the game,” Go said. “We need to hear from more women, about some of their challenges and perspectives … This will be a turning point for the game.”
Go appeared alongside NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, Broncos CEO Paul White, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and Fox Sports’ Yvonne O’Keefe, Lara Pitt and Mark Gasnier during the panel show, the NRL chief conceding there was plenty of room for improvement in promoting a stronger female voice.
“That hasn’t been my experience dealing with Raelene Castle, Lynne Anderson and Rebecca Frizelle,” Greenberg said. “[But] if that sort of view comes from Marina, we’ve got to do better. Part of that review will be telling us those things.”
White said a strong female presence at Brisbane left the club in a “very fortunate” position, but accepted the gender balance at Red Hill isn’t the norm.
“Over half my executive team are women, which is a bit of an outlier for a sporting club, but they’re the best people for the job,” the Broncos chief executive said. “They provide great opinions and that sends a strong message to our staff, our players. I’m very fortunate in that respect.”
The wide-ranging discussion also covered player behaviour, the salary cap and third party agreements, stadiums and expansion.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/marina-go-fires-parting-shot-at-nrl-over-women-in-leadership/news-story/7df12dd0052915d330418c4be7333a06