John Grant, the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, has a lot on his plate, a lot to worry about.

He's under pressure for not attending Wednesday's meeting of club chairs and CEOs where the NRL claimed all was under control in the looming negotiations with the players but the smell coming from under the door was decidedly less sweet.

Grant's organisation is suffering from cash flow problems to the extent that, reportedly, they are getting bank loans and seeking advances from sponsors. This, from an organisation that promised it would assemble cash reserves to at least challenge those of the AFL.

But of all the messes the former Australia winger must clean up, there is one perception he should worry about above all others, one sliding door that the sport's history will judge particularly harshly.