News Coronavirus and NRL

[Bring back John Fifita]

I only singled out Canterbury as, due to them losing sponsorships, it was announced overnight that Canterbury Leagues have given a $5 million+ grant to the football club and also are now the football club's major sponsor for 2020. hence that is a big chunk of cash to fork out when you would expect falling revenues for all Leagues Clubs. Hence the crunch might come sooner for Canterbury than the others.

speaking of Canterbury, Rashays withdrawing their sponsorship was timely given the looming impact on the restaurant industry.. bet they’re blessing the resoanable opportunity to exit after the players indiscretions in port Macquarie..

And what of the sponsors like Trip A Deal (sea eagles and Dragons)... would cancelling games give them an exit opportunity when that industry needs to scramble to save every dollar it can...?

 

[Perth Red]

I wonder if the players would be up for an 8-10 week isolation stay in NQ at that Calioppe site and all play out of one ground? They could have testing and treatment on site and at end of day they arent in any real risk of harm if they do get it. Being away from family is obviously a key issue for some so maybe it would require 25 man squads with willing reserve graders making up any gaps from first teamers who dont want to do it. Those that do get paid, those that dont get reduce pay. Might be the only way the NRL can keep playing games and get paid by TV and sponsors?

I dont think the risk of getting the disease is that big a deal for players, the risk of them then passing it on to vulnerable family members is. This way they can play and if they get it just sit out for a bit on site whilst they get over it and then back into playing. If my $500k salary was on the line I reckon I'd do it even if the Mrs wasnt very happy!

Worse case if this lingers on is they could then have a 4 week break to go to back to their families and then come back and do it again for another 8 weeks or so. Where there's a will there's a way!

 

[Quicksilver]

I wonder if the players would be up for an 8-10 week isolation stay in NQ at that Calioppe site and all play out of one ground? They could have testing and treatment on site and at end of day they arent in any real risk of harm if they do get it. Being away from family is obviously a key issue for some so maybe it would require 25 man squads with willing reserve graders making up any gaps from first teamers who dont want to do it. Those that do get paid, those that dont get reduce pay. Might be the only way the NRL can keep playing games and get paid by TV and sponsors?

I dont think the risk of getting the disease is that big a deal for players, the risk of them then passing it on to vulnerable family members is. This way they can play and if they get it just sit out for a bit on site whilst they get over it and then back into playing. If my $500k salary was on the line I reckon I'd do it even if the Mrs wasnt very happy!

Worse case if this lingers on is they could then have a 4 week break to go to back to their families and then come back and do it again for another 8 weeks or so. Where there's a will there's a way!

Yeah there'd be massive pressure from the wives and girlfriends to sit it out.

Their attitude would probably change pretty quickly if the million dollar contract was not going to be paid in full though.

 

[Perth Red]

Yeah there'd be massive pressure from the wives and girlfriends to sit it out.

Their attitude would probably change pretty quickly if the million dollar contract was not going to be paid in full though.

Thats the kicker. Players saying they dont think the comp should go ahead might be in for a rude shock when the cash flow dictates they are only going to get 25% of their salary. Its in their best interests to keep the comp going by whatever means necessary. Our business, and most others, are in exactly the same situation. We need our staff at work or they wont have jobs.

 

[Quicksilver]

Thats the kicker. Players saying they dont think the comp should go ahead might be in for a rude shock when the cash flow dictates they are only going to get 25% of their salary. Its in their best interests to keep the comp going by whatever means necessary. Our business, and most others, are in exactly the same situation. We need our staff at work or they wont have jobs.

There are players that are expecting babies etc that understandably would want to sit out. I'd be fine with them doing so on a reduced salary. It would create a great opportunity for some nobodies to step up and make a name for themselves.

I don't know how that would work out with contract obligations etc but that's the way I want to see it go.

 

[Perth Red]

There are players that are expecting babies etc that understandably would want to sit out. I'd be fine with them doing so on a reduced salary. It would create a great opportunity for some nobodies to step up and make a name for themselves.

I don't know how that would work out with contract obligations etc but that's the way I want to see it go.

Exactly. NRL has an amazing opportunity here to do something really out the box and end up one of the only sports in the world still being played. The players and clubs (and partners) need to get on board and the NRL needs to creative and take a gamble they can do it. NRL camp 2020!

ps the only way I could see the players agreeing is if they knew it was this or lose most of their pay for this year.

 

[unforgiven]

I wonder if the players would be up for an 8-10 week isolation stay in NQ at that Calioppe site and all play out of one ground? They could have testing and treatment on site and at end of day they arent in any real risk of harm if they do get it. Being away from family is obviously a key issue for some so maybe it would require 25 man squads with willing reserve graders making up any gaps from first teamers who dont want to do it. Those that do get paid, those that dont get reduce pay. Might be the only way the NRL can keep playing games and get paid by TV and sponsors?

I dont think the risk of getting the disease is that big a deal for players, the risk of them then passing it on to vulnerable family members is. This way they can play and if they get it just sit out for a bit on site whilst they get over it and then back into playing. If my $500k salary was on the line I reckon I'd do it even if the Mrs wasnt very happy!

Worse case if this lingers on is they could then have a 4 week break to go to back to their families and then come back and do it again for another 8 weeks or so. Where there's a will there's a way!

Watching NRL360 last night both Benji and James Graham were adamant that the game does anything it needs to do to keep playing! I think a lot of players would feel the same!

 

[Quicksilver]

If they are going to do something like this it needs to be done very soon.

With increasing infection rates they're probably running out of time before someone spreads it to a whole team. Or a couple of teams.

 

[franklin2323]

Exactly. NRL has an amazing opportunity here to do something really out the box and end up one of the only sports in the world still being played. The players and clubs (and partners) need to get on board and the NRL needs to creative and take a gamble they can do it. NRL camp 2020!

ps the only way I could see the players agreeing is if they knew it was this or lose most of their pay for this year.

Think no Origin match payments is a must. It needs to go ahead for TV but will be a huge hit if no crowds by then

 

[Perth Red]

If they are going to do something like this it needs to be done very soon.

With increasing infection rates they're probably running out of time before someone spreads it to a whole team. Or a couple of teams.

Time is of the essence, though prevalence is still very low so the odds are still in the NRL's favour for a week or two.

 

[Quicksilver]

Think no Origin match payments is a must. It needs to go ahead for TV but will be a huge hit if no crowds by then

I think Origin needs to go to the end of the year when they might be able to have a crowd.

 

[moffla]

Time is of the essence, though prevalence is still very low so the odds are still in the NRL's favour for a week or two.

Diagnosed prevalence is still very low. Who knows how many people are roaming around with it tbh

 

[Perth Red]

Diagnosed prevalence is still very low. Who knows how many people are roaming around with it tbh

true but if its asymptomatic then in terms of playing and being in camp it doesnt really matter who has or hasn't got it as long as they isolated within camp and not giving it to anyone else. Its why the worldwide figures are a bit pointless as they are only testing a small fraction of people who are likely to be carrying.

 

[franklin2323]

I think Origin needs to go to the end of the year when they might be able to have a crowd.

Depends on TV though. Origin works cause it is usually quiet time on TV

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Pommy]

Depends on TV though. Origin works cause it is usually quiet time on TV

I think origin is going to get an audience no matter when it’s played. Perhaps not as big as the current ones but it’s still likely to be the most watched thing in Australia that month.

 

[franklin2323]

I think origin is going to get an audience no matter when it’s played. Perhaps not as big as the current ones but it’s still likely to be the most watched thing in Australia that month.

December would be non ratings time though but either way is better than no crowd for it

 

[Quicksilver]

The non-ratings thing is weird. It’s weird that the period even exists. Surely Nine could still get top advertising dollars for an Origin match.

They should play an Origin on Christmas night. Now there’s an oddball to finish a weird as f**k year.

 

[simmo05]

I wonder if the players would be up for an 8-10 week isolation stay in NQ at that Calioppe site and all play out of one ground? They could have testing and treatment on site and at end of day they arent in any real risk of harm if they do get it. Being away from family is obviously a key issue for some so maybe it would require 25 man squads with willing reserve graders making up any gaps from first teamers who dont want to do it. Those that do get paid, those that dont get reduce pay. Might be the only way the NRL can keep playing games and get paid by TV and sponsors?

I dont think the risk of getting the disease is that big a deal for players, the risk of them then passing it on to vulnerable family members is. This way they can play and if they get it just sit out for a bit on site whilst they get over it and then back into playing. If my $500k salary was on the line I reckon I'd do it even if the Mrs wasnt very happy!

Worse case if this lingers on is they could then have a 4 week break to go to back to their families and then come back and do it again for another 8 weeks or so. Where there's a will there's a way!

I have worked away from home for the last 15 years, usually on a 4 weeks on 1 off roster. I am currently in Victoria 3weeks into a 6 week stint. It is shit but you have to do what have to do. They need to man up. A few years ago there would have been over 100 000 people in the same boat, so it's not asking too much of them if they want to continue on their current career path.

 

[simmo05]

The non-ratings thing is weird. It’s weird that the period even exists. Surely Nine could still get top advertising dollars for an Origin match.

They should play an Origin on Christmas night. Now there’s an oddball to finish a weird as f**k year.

It would be f**king mint! Ratings would be massive