NRL braces for pandemic

SYDNEY - The NRL fears a coronavirus shutdown would mean one thing for the game — 'catastrophe'

The NRL will forge ahead with the season despite the coronavirus pandemic but will ask the Australian government for financial assistance to keep the game alive should they be forced to suspended the competition.

In an extraordinary press conference yesterday, ARLC chairman Peter V'landys and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg outlined the 'catastrophic' impact suspending the season would have on rugby league.

Already the NRL has dipped into its 'distressed fund' to the tune of $6.8 million, allocating $425,000 to each of the 16 clubs to assist with the financial pressure of closing games to fans from round two.

However, this is a meagre sum compared to the losses clubs are faced with from next weekend.

After two games are played in front of crowds on Sunday to conclude the opening round, the 2020 NRL will proceed as planned although league bosses admitted this could change by the end of the day. All options are on the table including isolating players and staff and suspending the season entirely.

"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 going forward. Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble. An Australia without rugby league is not Australia. The government has to assist us in this crisis.”

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