Queensland Rugby League (QRL) chairman John McDonald has announced he’ll retire at the end of the year.
McDonald informed the QRL board on the weekend he will not be seeking re-election at the annual general meeting in December, bringing an end to decades of service in the game.
McDonald began his life in league as a player, representing Toowoomba Valleys before heading south to play for Manly between 1969 and 1971.
He also represented Queensland and Australia during his career before coaching Queensland to a 20-10 victory over NSW in the inaugural State of Origin fixture in 1980.
McDonald has been chairman of the QRL since 1992 and feels he’s leaving the game in a healthy position following the establishment of the Australian Rugby League Commission this year.
“It is really exciting, because it’s about making the game better and providing opportunities,” he said in a statement.
“The commission has adopted that policy. There has been a few little problems that they’ve had to sort out, but they’re making their way through that.”
QRL chief executive Robert Moore paid tribute to McDonald’s service to the game.
“It’s fair to say that no other international in rugby league history has made such an enormous administrative contribution,” Moore said.