Rugby league background: Raelene Castle is set to be announced as the new Bulldogs CEO. Credit:Getty Images Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib described Castle's appointment as a major coup for the club. “Raelene was the standout applicant from a list of high-quality candidates made up of sporting and business leaders from around the world,” Dib said. “Her combination of business and marketing acumen coupled with her experience with high performance athletes was unrivalled. “Under Raelene’s leadership the Bulldogs can move forward into a new era with great confidence. It is also a watershed moment for the Bulldogs with the appointment of our first female chief executive and we’re delighted to welcome Raelene to the club.” NRL chief executive Dave Smith welcomed Castle into the rugby league fold. “First and foremost they’ve chosen the best person for the job,” Smith said.

“I’ve spoken to Raelene on a number of occasions and her credentials are simply outstanding. It is also worth acknowledging the significance of a female chief executive and the message of opportunity that the appointment sends to women in our game. There are exciting opportunities opening in Rugby League and this shows an ability to attract the best candidates both male and female. “I’ve said before there is a place for more women in decision making roles in Rugby League and we need to be even more inclusive in the years ahead.” Castle will become the first female chief executive of an NRL club since fellow Kiwi Liz Dawson, who was in charge of the Adelaide Rams in 1997 and early 1998, when she left and was replaced by current ARU official Michael O’Connor. Cronulla also had a female chief executive, Donna Burke, in 1988-89. Former New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Jim Doyle, who has been appointed along with Greenberg to the NRL executive team, is understood to have recommended Castle. ‘‘I can’t speak highly enough of her. She would be an asset to any organisation,’’ Doyle said.

‘‘From my own personal knowings of her and my dealings with her, she is very, very smart. She understands sport and has a rugby league background. She has a huge passion for league and when we had a Kiwis or Warriors game she’d often be there. She’s a big rugby league follower.’’ Warriors club boss Wayne Scurrah also praised Castle for her job with New Zealand Netball and welcomed the appointment of a woman to the NRL’s chief executive ranks. ‘‘She has always struck me as a really competent person who has done a great job with netball so it is a great innovation for the Bulldogs,’’ Scurrah said. ‘‘It is a different business and a different country for her but she has certainly earned her stripes in netball and I think it would be great to see her welcomed into the NRL. ‘‘Netball would be by far the biggest female sport in New Zealand, they get massive crowds wherever they play around the country if there is a Test match, and the Australasian league has grown in momentum under Raelene as well.

‘‘I think it is a really positive move for the NRL to have a lady like her at the very least in the running and if she gets the job she would deserve it for sure.’’ Dawson, who is a director and part owner of the Wellington Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise, said she supported the appointment of any female sporting administrator provided they were earned the job on merit. ‘‘I would welcome for any club or any sporting code to have the right person, the best person for the job, and if that happens to be a woman then so be it and that is great,’’ Dawson said. ‘‘I am sure that anyone who has been in the role that I was in in the past would say it actually has to be the right person for the job. ‘‘I have always maintained that and you can only look at people’s background and the experience they have to know whether they are going to do the right job or not.’’