NEWCASTLE Rugby League chairman John Crooks has praised the "fantastic job" done by outgoing chief executive officer Matt Harris over the last seven years and feels confident interim replacement Charlie Haggett will fill the void for the start of the 2021 season.
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Crooks said the process to find a new boss would commence "down the track" but confirmed on Thursday that Haggett steps down as the board's deputy chairman and takes over the main role in the short term with Harris to wrap up March 16.
Newcastle RL clubs were sent an email informing them of Harris' resignation.
Harris has secured employment elsewhere. Round one is a month away.
The change at the top comes ahead of a new-look 10-team competition in first grade, including Central Coast sides Wyong and The Entrance, but follows last year's shortened COVID-19 campaign, the amalgamation of NSW Rugby League and Country Rugby League in 2019 and the sale of Newcastle Leagues Club.
Crooks said Harris, who started as CEO in 2014 after two years on the board, had navigated Newcastle RL through a "tough" period.
"The last few years have been fairly tough on everybody, moving away from CRL and moving to NSWRL and trying to implement restructures," Crooks said.
"It's been a pretty hard road but he's done a fantastic job navigating all the obstacles that get put in your way when you're trying to make change."
Crooks applauded Harris' efforts from 2020 when the global coronavirus pandemic threatened to sideline Newcastle RL competitions.
"Again that was a difficult period but he handled it extremely well," he said.
'We ran competitions where other other areas just threw the towel in, but Matt and the board just refused to do that. We knew how important it was to have a competition running so we persevered."
Crooks also made a note of "getting back in the black" after selling the Newcastle Leagues Club premises in2017 and buying property at Raymond Terrace.
The Newcastle RL chairman said incoming Haggett had "plenty of experience" in rugby league administration.
"We'll hand over operations on an interim basis to Charlie Haggett, who has got plenty of experience with Melbourne Storm, NSW Rugby League, the Knights and he was a high-ranking police officer," he said.
"He's offered to step into the space [short term], but we'll start a recruiting process down the track because our season is just about to kick off. He's across how things operate to keep things running smoothly which is fantastic."
Crooks said the 2021 draw, which has yet to be released, was still being finalised by NSWRL with Newcastle RL overseeing firsts, reserves and under 19s while Newcastle Hunter Community Rugby League are running women's tackle, women's tag and men's open grade.
"The draw is the biggest thing but we believe we can make it work," he said.
The season opener is scheduled for March 27-28.
Meanwhile, the annual Charity Shield between Cessnock and Kurri Kurri will proceed as planned after the Coalfields clubs held a meeting on Thursday.
Hosting rights for March 13 and a clearance involving former Knights hooker Tyler Randell, who has joined Kurri after signing with Cessnock last season, had been sticking points recently.
The Bulldogs, who didn't field a side in the top grade last year, are set to welcome Souths for a trial at Kurri Sportsground this Saturday.
Reigning premiers the Goannas were at home to the Knights lower grade squad at Cessnock Sportsground last weekend, going down 20-4.
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