CDRL SHOCK
THE Cairns District Rugby League will not run a season for the first time in more than seven decades.
CDRL clubs met last night to review the Queensland Rugby League’s Return To Play Handbook and discuss a way forward. By 6.30pm, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 season.
CDRL chairman Colin Moore said the restrictions made it far too difficult to run a competition, with most clubs facing financial losses if it went ahead.
“It’s a bit of a shame (to cancel the season) but we can’t play with just 100 people allowed in venues,” Moore said. “The clubs wouldn’t survive. “A number of clubs arrived (at the meeting) and their view was they just couldn’t play through the restrictions.”
Further discussion as a group resulted in a nearunanimous decision to abandon season 2020 and to pour energy into 2021.
A decision on the junior competition has not yet been made.
The CDRL becomes the third competition in the state to cancel their 2020 season.
Toowoomba was the first last week, with Bundaberg pulling the pin earlier yesterday.
All three regions have cited the gathering limits imposed by the State Government, with the 100-person limit making it financially unviable.
The Queensland Government moved to Stage 2 restrictions yesterday, allowing for small groups to gather for noncontact training. Only 20 people – players and staff combined – are allowed at venues, with a record kept of every person in attendance. Volunteers also have to clean and sanitise any frequently touched surface or training equipment, including footballs.
Stage 3 restrictions, which are due to come into effect next month, will allow for full competition and training with a maximum of 100 attendees.
The hard cap on attendance could cripple clubs, and that was a risk Moore said the Cairns rugby league community simply could not take.