Yes, Raelene Castle sounds like the perfect person to fix the broken toy of Australian rugby.

"Four years ago, they said the same thing when I joined the Bulldogs," said Castle, who on Tuesday was confirmed as the next chief executive of Rugby Australia. "They said, 'Kiwi, female going into the blokey world of rugby league ??? Who the bloody hell would've thought that was a good idea?'

"Four years later, people who are close enough to rugby league would say, 'She survived, she built some good relationships and did some good things'. I did that because of who I am as a business person and an individual. I don't want people to speak about me being a good female administrator. I want to be known as a good administrator. When they start doing that, you know you've done a good job."

Of course, Castle stands on her own two feet as an accomplished sporting executive, having survived five tricky years as the chief executive of the Bulldogs and six years before that at the helm of Netball New Zealand.

She was rugby league's first female club chief executive, and RA's decision to appoint her ahead of former Wallaby Phil Kearns as the much-needed replacement for Bill Pulver makes her the first female to take charge of a major code in Australia.

"While the female angle is not for me to make a focus, I am proud be the first female CEO of a major rugby country," she said.

The last job on her resume might've been rugby league, and her father, Bruce, a former Kiwi international in the 13-man game, but her heart undeniably rests with rugby union and the All Blacks.

During her time at the Bulldogs, she was often seen at matches in a suite before kick-off, plonked in front of a TV in the corner watching an All Blacks match.

"Absolutely," she laughed when asked to verify the story. "There wouldn't be a Wallabies-All Blacks Test match that I have missed in the last 35 years, unless I was travelling."

Castle's gender or background should not be a factor when she gets her feet under Bill Pulver's old desk on January 15 ??? but it will be.

Those close to Castle were concerned about her taking on the role when she was first linked in June to the job for three specific reasons ... Female. Kiwi. Last job in rugby league.

The politics of the Bulldogs are one thing. The politics of rugby union, which is still strongly influenced by NSW and Queensland and whichever private school you may or may not have attended, another prospect altogether. While rugby's heartland extends well beyond Sydney's north shore, much of its power still resides there.

Then there's the long line of former Wallabies players and coaches who love nothing more than taking a one-wood to the head of the people running the code. In the last year or so, they've had every reason to take out a big stick. Some will now be particularly aggrieved that Kearns didn't get the job.

Influential 2GB broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones, who wanted outgoing Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev to get the job, said this when Castle's name was first tossed up: "Raelene Castle? Give me a break. You can't be serious about handing the game over to people like this, it's nonsense."

People like this ... Castle's first interview on Jones' breakfast program should be entertaining, if she agrees to one.

Castle is no fool, though. Just as Rugby Australia was wondering if Castle was the answer, she was doing her own due diligence, meeting with former and current stakeholders to hear their concerns and weighing up if this was a shitfight worth getting into.

What she found were many voices outside of the game's traditional power base wanting to be heard. Reassuringly, she also received unanimous approval from the four states. An endorsement from some does not guarantee she will be a success. There was much pessimism across the game on Tuesday that Castle will have time to make the drastic changes needed to save rugby.

There are issues everywhere you look. Will Super Rugby continue to die a slow and painful death, despite changes next year following the hamfisted decision to wind up the Western Force?

Will the disconnect between rugby and those at the grassroots level continue, with junior players still furious about the increase in fees that Pulver ridiculously brought in a year or so ago?

Will the game's hottest young players continue to lean towards a professional career in rugby league or look elsewhere, fearful that rugby union isn't a wise career path in the long-term?

And what of the baffling decisions that have allowed the likes of David Pocock to take a "gap year" to go and play rugby in Japan while still being paid $750,000 year?

Will Castle have the nerve to stare down Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who seemingly had more sway in Australian rugby than Pulver ever did but, given his post-match sprays of referees and reporters on the Spring tour, is crying out for a boss to occasionally pull him into line?

"I had Des Hasler as a coach, remember?" Castle joked when asked about Cheika.

Top dog: Castle with Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib after a board meeting last year. Photo: Sarah Keayes

On that note, Castle finished at the Bulldogs with the club in turmoil, from salary cap issues to Hasler's messy sacking, which is headed to the Supreme Court. How much blame can be apportioned to Castle for this mess depends on who you talk to. Hasler was terminated after Castle had left the building.

What's clear is that her position at Belmore had become untenable. When she announced earlier this year she was moving on, it was widely accepted she could no longer work alongside Dib.

Some directors say Dib had to become more hands-on because of the direction of the club. Others say Castle should've been left to do her job.

Whatever happened at Canterbury, it was clear she could no longer work with the board. In the messy world of rugby union governance, where the states have significant control, Castle faces an uphill battle to quickly take charge of the game.

Rugby doesn't have time for politics. It only has time for a revolution. Will the female Kiwi whose last job in rugby league have time to make it happen?