Bell’s fear for grassroots

But if those top-shelf funds have dried up, that has a flowon effect on the lower tiers of rugby league.

“If we don’t stop, look and take the opportunity now, I worry for the future of a range of aspects of the game and the future of regional sport, because there’s an enormous cost putting on regional sport,” Bell said.

“The game cannot survive if we’re only looking at that elite level in juniors and those next stages up.

“The game will struggle for fan base as well as player and future base. Our game and sport in Australia is heavily geared to that connection with fan bases and local junior bases.

“For the North Queensland Cowboys and the North Queensland region, that whole region has been critical to the success of rugby league over time.”

With the NRL set to recommence on May 28, financial savvy at a time when income has been lost will be paramount to ensuring the code does not plummet into further uncertainty.

However now that clubs like the Cowboys have engaged with the community like never before and provided livelihoods for so many, Bell said these costs could not be picked apart in a hurry.

When Bell was in charge of the first Cowboys side his staff consisted of a full-time reserve grade coach, strength and conditioning coach and development officer. From there it was a small spattering of part-time workers and volunteers.

To save funds, the team would fly to and from away games on the same day – creating some exhausted players but cutting on accommodation costs.

Bell said that ultimately the Cowboys got through those early days living on their dream. They had passionate followers invested and had to make tough decisions in terms of playing and behind the scenes personnel to keep the investment viable. While he does not question the full-time nature of the code and the increased demands on the players, he said the COVID-19 situation had presented many questions as to how funds were used.

“There’s no doubt that (the professionalism of the game) is better supported with additional staff, but I think it now begs a question in a number of codes what is a reasonable level of staffing to deliver what is deliverable?” Bell said.

“Where are our priorities, and have we got too heavy at the top of the game such it could make the foundations and grassroots of the game vulnerable?

“The game sustained on a lot less is the point that I make and I think we’ve got to be mindful we can’t just look after what’s now, the game has to look after what may be and what’s to come.

“The worldwide pandemic will perhaps teach sport the add ons aren’t sustainable long term and you need to rethink what it looks like.”