GOING, GONE, GONE . . . ?
Netball premiership faces uncertain future as the effect of coronavirus on sport in New Zealand shows no sign of slowing.
The chances of the ANZ Premiership resuming again in 2020 is looking increasingly murky.
Netball New Zealand (NNZ) yesterday postponed the competition for two weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The ANZ Premiership got through the opening round of action, but Monday night’s game between the Southern Steel and Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Dunedin was played behind closed doors.
The postponement will take effect immediately for the scheduled games in rounds two and three that were to be played this weekend and March 28-30.
The decision was made following the government’s announcement on Thursday regarding indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people being called off, advice around nonessential travel, and player and team welfare.
NNZ, which is being guided by the government and Ministry of Health, will review the situation next week around any future possible return to play.
With 11 new coronavirus cases confirmed in New Zealand yesterday, a round-four return for the premiership on April 5 seems highly ambitious. Whether the competition can resume at all this season must be in serious doubt.
NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie told Stuff there was no exact date or round the competition had to resume by to be completed. The longer the competition drags on without games, it becomes more likely it is canned for 2020.
Wyllie confirmed no premiership player or NNZ staff member had been tested for coronavirus yet.
‘‘I can’t predict where the advice from government is going to go. We’re working on several different possibilities [for the competition], but this is really a day-by-day kind of situation, watching brief.
‘‘We’ve said next week is the time to regroup. I think we will be really cognisant of any changes in the government advice over the weekend. Things are moving so rapidly that it’s really difficult to put a firm time frame around anything.’’
There were several different scenarios how the Premiership season could play out if time was lost. ‘‘We’re looking at all options and not ruling anything out.’’
With six teams in the competition, they could potentially play a 10-round format, where each team plays the other twice, rather than the usual three – should a chunk of the season be ruined.
Wyllie said it was far too early to get into discussions about how players would be affected financially if the competition had to be stopped for the year and no further games were possible.
Netball is just one of the multitude of worldwide sports affected by the unprecedented global health crisis.
‘‘We’re not even in that scenario at this point.
‘‘What we need to be able to give our people is certainty and at this point of time, based on what we know, our intention is that we’re postponing for two weeks.’’