The Australian Rugby League has confirmed it will support an independent commission to run the game in Australia.

The board of the ARL has agreed in principle to a model proposed by its 50 per cent partner in the NRL, News Limited, for the commission.

An ARL statement on Thursday said the commission would be a not-for-profit entity that will include the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues as well as the 16 NRL clubs.

"The ARL believes that the in-principle agreement arrived at today will deliver a truly independent commission to run rugby league," ARL chairman Colin Love said in the statement.

"There is still a huge amount of detail to be worked through but today's agreement is a major step in the process.

"Both partners have committed to regular meetings to work through each of the points that will need to be discussed and the complex legal agreements that are involved.

"People need to understand the there is still a lot of work ahead."

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