 In 1984 he became the Chairman of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and in 1986 took over from Tom Bellew as Chairman of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL).He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988 "in recognition of (his) service to Rugby League football".In the mid-1990s Arthurson led the ARL's fight against Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd in the Super League war.