Agar keen to bring fans back inside as soon as possible
SUPER LEAGUE is likely to resume behind closed doors this summer, but Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar hopes that is only a very temporary measure.
Spectators will be locked out when Australia’s NRL returns today, two months after being suspended because of the Covid-18 outbreak.
Clubs there had a brief taste of behind closed doors matches at the start of this season, in games which were broadcast in the UK.
Agar admitted there is a novelty value to playing in empty stadiums, but predicted that will quickly wear off and the sooner fans are allowed in, the better it will be for everyone in the sport.
Under proposals due to be discussed at a Super League clubs meeting today, the competition would begin again on August 16 with a view to crowds being admitted from October onwards – depending on the public health situation at the time.
Agar will be watching the NRL action and said: “I thought we saw it a bit when they played behind closed doors the weekend before they finished, that there is a bit of a novelty value about it for a week or two.
“On television you can really hear the sounds, you can hear the communication and all the small talk, but I have to say, I know there is a need for us to get going, but I hope we are not playing behind closed doors for long.”
Agar stressed: “The game is about the fans turning up to watch.
“It will be strange, there is an interest in hearing those sounds and the talk, but I think everybody will miss the atmosphere of the crowd. It will be strange for the players, that’s for sure.”
From clubs’ point of view, the biggest negative to playing without fans is the financial hit they will take if they have to stage or compete in matches without any gameday income.
“I think the biggest worry for the game at the moment is finances,” Agar added. “That is getting challenged from every angle so the sooner we can get it back to normal, the better, but it looks like we will be behind closed doors at first.”
Brisbane Broncos take on Parramatta Eels today (10.50am UK time) in the first game of rugby played anywhere since coronavirus took hold.
“I will be watching,” Agar confirmed. “It is part of my job and I enjoy watching it. I subscribe to Fox Sports so I’ve been keeping abreast of their weekly shows.
“It is similar to how it is here, though they have been far less impacted than we have. It will be interesting to see how they cope with the testing strategies and if someone tests positive – that’s going to be the acid test for them.”