The make-up of the NRL's independent commission has become shrouded in a veil of secrecy, with the selection process of the inaugural eight commissioners going behind closed doors on Friday.

ARL chairman John Chalk, News Limited chief operating officer Peter Macourt, Queensland Rugby League director Terry Mackenroth and South Sydney chairman Nick Pappas met in Sydney on Friday to begin culling a shortlist of candidates to make up the commission.

But their progress in determining the final eight is unknown, with all parties signing confidentiality agreements to protect the identities of those involved in the shortlist.

With prolonged negotiations over the wording of the constitution regarding News Limited's departure as part owner of the NRL having finally come to an end in October last year, the selection of the eight commissioners was seen as the final piece to the puzzle.

It is believed recruitment agency Spencer Stuart provided a list of 30 candidates to the four-member committee on Friday.

There was some thought that the game's new governing body would be up and running by the end of April, but that now appears unlikely, with the set-up of the independent commission having been plagued by delays from the day it was conceived.

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