Coronavirus sucks.. but the NRL lives!

[Mark from Brisbane]

The ban on 500+ people “ could” extend six months, but is now “ indefinite” , I think the NRL should suspend the season for three months and run a 17 week competition July-October with the GF first week of November.

Cowboys to play all their games down south for the last two months.

 

[The Wheel]

NSWRL suspends all competitions over COVID-19 | Sea Eagles

A special meeting of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) Board has agreed to postpone all Community Rugby League until at least 1 May 2020, effective immediately, while all major NSWRL competitions have been suspended until 31 May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.seaeagles.com.au

 

[globaleagle]

-Weirdler.... stand further away from me ya covid-19 ridden drop kick! (and worse...a Journo!)

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

NSWRL suspends all competitions over COVID-19 | Sea Eagles

A special meeting of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) Board has agreed to postpone all Community Rugby League until at least 1 May 2020, effective immediately, while all major NSWRL competitions have been suspended until 31 May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.seaeagles.com.au

Only a matter of time now , they‘ll have to at least suspend the comp.

 

[manly al]

Wasn "t the then A R L comp suspended for a few years during w w 2 ? Game still recovered and even if there is a forced suspension soon , the basic structures of the game should ensure that things can eventually be back to normal and taking into account financial considerations as well . Also heard a leading specialist in contagious diseases today confirm that this virus was derived from bats and other reports that higher temperatures can certainly retard or degrade the virus . The suggestion to relocate matches to Northern Australia [ Queensland and including Darwin ] probably has even more merit then . in any case the peak for this present pandemic may not eventuate in Australia until our traditional winter period , so even more reason to continue on playing N R L fixtures for as long as is feasible .[ and may even be able to continue during any peak duration ]

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Wasn "t the then A R L comp suspended for a few years during w w 2 ? Game still recovered and even if there is a forced suspension soon , the basic structures of the game should ensure that things can eventually be back to normal and taking into account financial considerations as well . Also heard a leading specialist in contagious diseases today confirm that this virus was derived from bats and other reports that higher temperatures can certainly retard or degrade the virus . The suggestion to relocate matches to Northern Australia [ Queensland and including Darwin ] probably has even more merit then . in any case the peak for this present pandemic may not eventuate in Australia until our traditional winter period , so even more reason to continue on playing N R L fixtures for as long as is feasible .[ and may even be able to continue during any peak duration ]

Plenty of the players families will whinge about their partners being away from home but I’m guessing more will whinge when their payments stop indefinitely.

As silly as it sounds , isolating the entire set up, completely, and playing games out of one or two ovals ( totally isolated) could in fact work.

But you’d have to isolate their entire support system as well, food etc etc.

Possible yes , logistical nightmare , absolutely

 

[Fibro Eagle]

To isolate clubs and play games out of a few venues would work , logistic nightmare definitely, Also players would go stir crazy being confined for so long would have to affect the way they play , best scenario would to suspend the comp and players receive minimum payments to get them through so clubs don’t suffer financially

 

[Jigzkiller]

Funny how last collective bargaining all we heard from these footballers was "we want to be partners" well boys as partners get ready to accept less money this year that's how being a partner works.

So Addin stop complaining and enjoy the partnership.

 

[40 years an eagle]

players receive minimum payments to get them through so clubs don’t suffer financially

The clubs don't pay the players mate, the NRL does, so player payments have no direct effect on clubs' financial viability.

 

[maxta]

I must confess I like that games are still on from a selfish perspective, however before I get shot down, safety first and I would get it 100% if season shut down or paused temporarily...
A thing to take out of this for the NRL while it does stay on....with so many other sports shut down internationally....could well get a fair bit of publicity in the absence of other sports.
Could be a time to promote far and wide and another suggestion I found interesting....the games could maybe be played in the country area's with a limit of - 400 ppl (taking into consideration players/trainers/officials ect ??
How do we determine the crowd? - first in best dressed, or some promotional idea that can give the game some positive press ??
Anyway just some idea's that are perhaps a little less gloomy, than most I have heard the past few weeks...

 

[lsz]

I must confess I like that games are still on from a selfish perspective, however before I get shot down, safety first and I would get it 100% if season shut down or paused temporarily...
A thing to take out of this for the NRL while it does stay on....with so many other sports shut down internationally....could well get a fair bit of publicity in the absence of other sports.
Could be a time to promote far and wide and another suggestion I found interesting....the games could maybe be played in the country area's with a limit of - 400 ppl (taking into consideration players/trainers/officials ect ??
How do we determine the crowd? - first in best dressed, or some promotional idea that can give the game some positive press ??
Anyway just some idea's that are perhaps a little less gloomy, than most I have heard the past few weeks...

Mate if every other sport is shut down it starts to be a bad look for the game to be the only one playing - I think the AFL / NRL are somewhat interdependent on what goes on next

 

[ManEagle]

Mate if every other sport is shut down it starts to be a bad look for the game to be the only one playing - I think the AFL / NRL are somewhat interdependent on what goes on next

It can work both ways.
If it is done right with the proper planning and infrastructure in place (I know wishful thinking with the nrl) they could actually lead the way for other organisations not just sports in how to keep rolling on through.
Possibly too big a logistic and health issue but if they are serious they can find a way through

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

****in' oath I'm picking the bong back up, it's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Want some borderline extreme?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

It can work both ways.
If it is done right with the proper planning and infrastructure in place (I know wishful thinking with the nrl) they could actually lead the way for other organisations not just sports in how to keep rolling on through.
Possibly too big a logistic and health issue but if they are serious they can find a way through

Logistically enormous, doable yes.

Every team, every support staff member,all broadcasters , all commentary team, caterers , medical backup the list goes on and on.

Fly them to ( say Townsville) , each team completely isolated , and everyone that deals with them ( bus drivers , caterers , cleaners and the list goes on.

All in one location , supported from the outside with food delivery ( I don’t mean Menulog) yes it might be possible.

But holey dooley you are talking a mammoth task.

 

[lsz]

Logistically enormous, doable yes.

Every team, every support staff member,all broadcasters , all commentary team, caterers , medical backup the list goes on and on.

Fly them to ( say Townsville) , each team completely isolated , and everyone that deals with them ( bus drivers , caterers , cleaners and the list goes on.

All in one location , supported from the outside with food delivery ( I don’t mean Menulog) yes it might be possible.

But holey dooley you are talking a mammoth task.

Sounds good in theory but it is the NRL

When you have well run sports stopping I can not see a world where the NRL will not and soon. I mean what chance are there of the players actually self isolating? The same ones who can not stay off social media or not get into trouble on school visits?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Sounds good in theory but it is the NRL

When you have well run sports stopping I can not see a world where the NRL will not and soon. I mean what chance are there of the players actually self isolating? The same ones who can not stay off social media or not get into trouble on school visits?

Boredom would create a LOT of issues.

 

[Brissie Kid]

NRL might be reduced to a monthly 9s tournament played out of Norfolk Island the way its heading.

 

[Brissie Kid]

Wasn "t the then A R L comp suspended for a few years during w w 2 ?

No. The first grade premiership has been played every year since 1908. RU in Sydney stopped its comp in WW1 as almost every player had enlisted. Neither rugby code or VFL stopped in WW2, even when the Japs were on the front doorstep.

The NSWRL didn't stop in WW1 or the Spanish flu pandemic as the game was barely a decade old. The NSWRL feared that if they stopped playing, some other cartel would grab all the players with money & set up a rival comp & then the NSWRL would be out the back door.

Right now it looks a little bit like NRL and AFL are both too frightened of each other to stop playing. They think if they shut up shop while the other keeps going, all their bored fans will start watching & gambling on the rival code and not come back.

 

[maxta]

Mate if every other sport is shut down it starts to be a bad look for the game to be the only one playing - I think the AFL / NRL are somewhat interdependent on what goes on next

Yep a couple of angles in truth, but with it the only sport on, I reckon most footy fans will still watch and maybe...just maybe, plenty of others who usually don't.
There would be the political aspect from other sports who have taken the "Shut Down" stance to throw a few stones....but if the NRL was to continue and remain unscathed, would certainly work both ways.
I can tell you I'll be watching Manly this weekend and not involved in any protest of the games on....but again would understand 100% if it is shut down also.
I am far from educated enough on this virus to taking an ignorant view, as this is having a Massive effect world wide, but the hysteria can certainly be inflated by the media.
In reflection, It makes me look at the world spinning and instead of thinking "I want more", right now I would take the "back to normal" in a blink...

 

[40 years an eagle]

Logistically enormous, doable yes.

Every team, every support staff member,all broadcasters , all commentary team, caterers , medical backup the list goes on and on.

Fly them to ( say Townsville) , each team completely isolated , and everyone that deals with them ( bus drivers , caterers , cleaners and the list goes on.

All in one location , supported from the outside with food delivery ( I don’t mean Menulog) yes it might be possible.

But holey dooley you are talking a mammoth task.

Yep, the mammoth task the NRL face is employing the right people to carry it off.

The other option is no TV rights = NRL armageddon...and they know it.

Let's see if they are smart enough to get the right people onboard.