Postpone the competition, says Morgan
NORTH Queensland skipper Michael Morgan has declared the NRL must postpone the competition as the code deals with the coronavirus fallout.
As NRL bosses prepare to soldier on with the competition, but without crowds, Morgan has led the calls to take the players off the field.
On the other side of the globe the NBA last week took the extreme measure of taking the competition off court. Meanwhile closer to home Super Rugby officials have decided to do the same.
To ensure the safety of the game’s players and an evenly poised premiership remained, Morgan said rugby league should do the same.
The State of Origin utility said there was no fear among his team of the disease.
However, given their positioning in Townsville requires extra travel compared with other NRL sides, he said the season should be delayed.
“That would be my preference, to postpone it. Everyone is on the same page then, everyone gets their one game in and then we can sort it out like everyone else,” Morgan said. “You look at the NBA and the big sports that are doing it that’s how they’re doing it.
“If they really want to stop it (spreading), I think that’s the better way to go.” The NRL announced on Friday that round two would proceed, but fans would be locked out from all games.
Yesterday NRL chief executive officer Todd Greenberg and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys held a joint press conference to reaffirm the stance.
But they were quick to admit the situation was fluid.
The NRL will employ a biosecurity and pandemic expert to offer advice, allowing time for the governing body to consult further with players and officials.
“I can’t stress enough our game has never faced a challenge like this,” V’landys said. “The longer it takes, the more pressure on our financial viability. It could have catastrophic effects on us. Our money will only last so long, and once it’s extinguished we are in big trouble. An Australia without rugby league is not Australia.
“The Government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing. Rugby league has been a fabric of our society for hundreds of years. It is people’s escape, it is people’s relaxation. “And we have to do everything we can to continue the tradition of rugby league. We are going to review all options including isolating players, including suspending the season. “Any decision we make today may change tomorrow. This situation is fluid and is changing by the hour.”
Veteran coach Wayne Bennett suggested the NRL needed to come up with a ‘Plan B’ following the Rabbitohs’ win over the Sharks on Saturday.
B e n n e t t went as far to suggest the competition c o u l d stage all games in a warmer city inc l u d i n g Townsville or Darwin. It is understood NRL club CEOS are alr e a d y c o n - cerned the coronavirus demic could lead to collapsing within eight weeks.
One CEO claimed clubs could only survive for two to three months if matches were abandoned.
“If player wages don’t change and there isn’t any revenue coming in, it would be a matter of weeks – eight to 12 weeks. You can’t keep paying $13 million in wages to players if you don’t have revenue coming in,” he said.
“If you stopped the broadcast money, refunded membership and loss of gate takings, hospitality and sponsorship, clubs would only survive a few weeks. Reimbursing membership would cost the game millions of collars. It is dire if you take out all your revenue streams out.”
To help initial financial costs, the NRL yesterday issued each club with $425,000 from a “distressed fund”, which contained $6.8 million. A $30 million profit from last year wouldn’t last long, according to officials.
The New Zealand Warriors have relocated to Kingscliff for a week to prepare for their home game against Canberra, which will be played on the Gold Coast. Warriors players Peta Hiku and Patrick Herbert have returned to New Zealand for family reasons. panclubs to 12