NRL plans to keep on playing

THE NRL aims to forge on with the 2020 premiership, also planning a host of contingencies, even after major rival AFL called a halt in the face of increasing coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

As the AFL suspended its men’s competition and abandoned the women’s finals series yesterday, the NRL was confident new Federal Government advice against “non-essential” travel wouldn’t affect them due to their use of chartered planes.

The NRL believes it is significantly different to the AFL in that the majority of its teams are based in NSW and Queensland, rather than all over the country, and it will be able to keep playing at least until the Government or health officials tell them to stop.

They are concerned by the “catastrophic” financial impact any stop in play will have and acknowledge they may have to rearrange their season at any moment.

The NSW and Victorian governments announced yesterday that they will pursue a shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours. There was also a national cabinet meeting scheduled for last night, where further limitations could be implemented.

Regardless, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys was confident the NRL would find a way to complete the 25-round season and finals with the league willing to play until as late as December 20.

“We are prepared for the worst, and we have looked at every contingency. We’re ready for whatever they throw at us,” V’landys told Triple M.

“We’ve got a four-week window that we can work with during State of Origin. There is a bye round and a (split) round, and we can always extend the season.

“It just really depends when we have to pull the lever to suspend the season.”

The NRL would be staring at a loss of up to $500 million if this year’s campaign is cancelled, with clubs facing dire financial peril. In turn, the NRL has had assurances from biosecurity and pandemic consultants that it could keep some teams playing if a player tests positive to the virus, and have other sides make up matches later.