Cowboy confident of bush footy’s future
AS Australia plans its road out of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses and organisations will have to chart different pathways to recovery.
Some may flourish, others may struggle and among those could be less financially strong sporting clubs.
But North Queensland hooker Reece Robson still sees a future for bush football coming out of the health crisis.
The 21-year-old plied his trade for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in his junior days, long touted as a future star by judges and coaches at the club.
While the pandemic has put pressure on businesses to navigate out of the harsh climate, Robson believed rugby league’s roots would continue to prosper post COVID-19.
“Obviously it’s disappointing for all the bush footy, but I think that’s no different to any other football organisation or company,” he said.
“Everyone is going through the same sort of hardship at the moment. It will all pick back up again pretty soon and it’ll be exciting for everyone.”
The return to training for the Cowboys has been a huge positive for the young rake.
With players no longer forced to complete isolation training, the team have now begun contact work in preparation for a May 28 relaunch.
Along with the comeback of the competition will be rule changes to the game, including officiating to be done by one referee and infringements at the ruck changing from a penalty to an immediately called new set of six.
Robson said the changes would not have an obvious impact on the way the Cowboys play, although they could benefit his own running game.
“Maybe one little advantage is you don’t have the ref standing on one side of you blocking the path a bit,” he said.