The deputy chair of the embattled NSW Rugby League has launched an impassioned defence of CEO Dave Trodden, claiming there appears to have been a "targeted personal attack" on him.
Just a day after heavyweights Nick Politis and chair George Peponis quit the NSWRL board in sensational circumstances, deputy chair John Anderson hit out at criticism of Trodden on Saturday.
Anderson asserted the organisation was attempting to move on from Friday's dramas, already considering board replacements for Politis and Peponis.
The powerful pair had stood down on Friday, angry at a move to block Cronulla CEO Dino Mezzatesta from running to become a director.
Mezzatesta had applied to run in Friday's election a fortnight ago, before his application was queried given he is an employee of the Sharks.
It's understood both the NSWRL and Mezzetesta sought legal advice on the matter, before the state body was advised he could not run.
That then allowed Geoff Gerard and Politis to be elected unopposed as the metropolitan representatives on the board, before Politis' resignation.
Deputy chair Anderson and fellow country representative Bob Walsh were also elected unopposed, but will keep their positions.
"The NSWRL Board has no intention of breaching the confidentialities of a private board meeting yesterday but it objects to the manner in which events that transpired were reported," Anderson said.
"In particular, the board is disappointed by what appears to be a targeted personal attack on chief executive David Trodden for simply doing his job.
"The board will now move to consider the casual vacancy that exists for one director and the appointment of a new chair.
"Until those appointments are made the board will not make any further comment on any circumstances arising from the meeting yesterday."
The issue has already reached the desk for ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys, who has indicated he could look into the situation.
Peponis had been up for re-election as chair on Tuesday.
But it is now unclear whether an election for that position will be held that soon, as the organision considers where to next after the ugly fallout.
