Gale, Cook refuse NRL CEO job

Fairfax media is reporting that two leading AFL club chief executives have knocked back approaches from the NRL to join a shortlist of candidates for the job vacated by former rugby league boss Dave Smith.

Highly-regarded Geelong Cats boss Brian Cook and Richmond Tigers CEO Brendon Gale received separate approaches before Christmas from recruitment agency Crown & Marks, which is acting on behalf of the NRL.

Both Cook and Gale, widely considered the top two CEOs at AFL club level, had a number of conversations with the recruitment agency, but declined the NRL’s invitation to a formal interview for the job.