CALL ON THE With superstar Holmes sidelined, it’s time for the Cowboys to... HAMMER

NICK WRIGHT

THE restart of the coronavirus-hit A-League season is a step closer after Football Federation Australia’s finalisation of its remuneration deal with the players’ union.

Signed off yesterday, the deal means the season has officially been extended until August 31, with existing player contracts to be lengthened until that date.

While the financial terms were not revealed, FFA chief executive James Johnson said players had agreed to a reduction in pay for the additional three months of the campaign.

“We have all had to readjust and this has meant coming together to make sacrifices for the greater good of the game,” Johnson said yesterday.

The news came as clubs began medical testing of players and staff before a return to training later in the week.

Once given the all clear, clubs are set to resume training tomorrow or Thursday.

Western Sydney Wanderers owner and the A-League clubs’ association chairman, Paul Lederer, said the deal would allow professional football to return in Australia.

“The clubs are very excited to get playing again … especially at a time when grassroots football will be back in action,” he said.

FFA is aiming for a July 16 resumption to the competition. The final hurdle is coming to an agreement with broadcaster Fox Sports.

EXCITEMENT is still coursing through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, but now he says it is time to put his debut behind him and focus on getting the Cowboys back on a winning roll.

Gifted with blistering speed, the 18-year-old was thrown into the deep end early in North Queensland’s loss to the Warriors when Valentine Holmes suffered an ankle injury. CONTINUED PAGE 29

FORMER FNQ JUNIOR PUSHING FOR SUPER RUGBY DEBUT