Separation fears for players

WELFARE officers will be needed “more than ever” if players are isolated from families for more than two months, according to a senior NRL club wellbeing expert.

All 16 teams could be quarantined under a radical proposal being considered to resume the competition during the coronavirus pandemic. It would mean players would be separated from their families for a potential 14-week regular season that could start as early as late May.

Throw in a four-week finals series and a potential State of Origin campaign, and some players may not be back home until mid-October. Parramatta chaplain George Dansey, who has been with the club for almost 10 years, says the plan would create an enormous challenge for support staff.

“It’s definitely going to bring wellbeing to the core because we’ll be checking in every single day, not just with players, but partners and kids,” Dansey said. “We’ll definitely be needed more than ever, if and when it does happen.”

The NRL has yet to nut out the details on how much staff would be allowed to stay in potential lockdown sites based in NSW and Queensland. An innovation committee will discuss the idea when it convenes tomorrow, however Dansey says including welfare officers is a non-negotiable.

“They’ll obviously limit the amount of support staff they’ll need, but there definitely has to be some well-being personnel within that isolated community,” he said. “Players are used to being away for one-two weeks, but I’m not sure they understand. Being away for that long, it’s definitely going to affect them.”

Dansey is one of three welfare staff at the Eels to remain diligently working with players remotely, despite being stood down due to the pandemic.