NRL BACK... NEXT MONTH?
V’landys offers hope for earlier NRL restart
COMMISSIONER Peter V’landys has confirmed it could be just 42 days before the NRL is back on TV screens as the Project Apollo team get ready to deliver a rugby league miracle on May 21.
And in another stunning development ahead of Thursday’s crucial Project Apollo meeting, it is believed the NRL is now leaning towards a 15-round competition draw where every team plays each other once – as opposed to the controversial two conference option.
This would include having State of Origin played in the traditional middle stage of the season.
There is an increasingly likelihood that all Sydneybased players will be allowed to stay living in their homes and not in a bubble-type environment.
This would also be the case for Canberra and Newcastle players if teams are not forced into lockdown. And while border restrictions most likely will force teams outside NSW and Canberra to relocate in Sydney for an expected period of two weeks, it is hoped they also can return to their home bases after that and travel by chartered flights on game day.
This is all due to the continued drop in COVID-19 percentages in NSW with the daily increase in cases now 1.79 per cent compared to 22.27 per cent when the competition was suspended after Round 2.
Now it is likely to kick off another week earlier.
“I am optimistic (the season could be back playing on May 21),” V’landys said.
“The committee is considering that (on Thursday) and I don’t want to pre-empt any of their recommendations, but that is a possibility, yes.”
V’landys would not speculate on what the competition draw would be, although the 15-round draw was now the preferred option ahead of the two conference system that upset many when it was revealed teams could lose competition points already accrued.
“I will be happy with whatever recommendation they come up with,” V’landys said.
“The most important thing for me is restarting the season.
“We want to get everyone’s spirits back up. You have to inspire people.”