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By Dean Ritchie
September 14, 2007 12:00am
THE NRL will consider implementing heat measures for Sunday's sudden-death semi-final in Townsville - but the move has angered the North Queensland Cowboys.
The mercury is expected to soar as high as 31C at Dairy Farmers Stadium by the 4pm kickoff for the Cowboys' semi-final against the New Zealand Warriors. If the heat is oppressive, doctors from both clubs could introduce a one-minute drinks break midway through each half, an extended 15-minute halftime break and have all three trainers carrying water bottles.
There are concerns for the Warriors players, who are coming from a 13C climate in Auckland and will be wearing black jumpers. Having home ground advantage, the Cowboys have opted to wear their white away jumpers rather than the blue home strip - forcing New Zealand to wear black.
But North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr told The Daily Telegraph last night each half should be a continuous 40 minutes. "We don't get to use heaters over in Auckland after 20 minutes of each half," Parr said. "We do have to consider the welfare of our players but it is a finals game. "I would have thought we'd play under the same rules as normal, where you play 40 minutes straight through. I don't think the Warriors would be expecting a break either. "Maybe a bit more is being made about the heat than it should be."
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club's medical staff were best qualified to make the decision over the heat. "It will be something best left to the medical people," he said. "But if they agree that it (the heat measures) should be done for the players' welfare, then it should happen. There's been a lot of debate about the heat. But the game is on at 4pm, not midday, so hopefully the sun won't be on the field with the grandstands there at Dairy Farmers."
Asked about having to wear black jumpers, Scurrah said: "That's our colour. There are no complaints about having to wear black."
The Warriors are, however, yet to apply to the NRL to have additional water breaks during the game. NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said player welfare was crucial. "We have had rules in place all year that cater for the possibility of extreme heat," Annesley said. "If the two club doctors agree some relief is required, the heat measures we can introduce are there to make sure everything possible is done to protect player welfare."
The Cowboys are keen to use the heat to their psychological advantage. Hooker David Faiumu said: "Sunday at four o'clock. It doesn't get any hotter than that in Australia." Cowboys coach Graham Murray added: "It will be a hot day up here on Sunday, no doubt about that."
By Dean Ritchie
September 14, 2007 12:00am
THE NRL will consider implementing heat measures for Sunday's sudden-death semi-final in Townsville - but the move has angered the North Queensland Cowboys.
The mercury is expected to soar as high as 31C at Dairy Farmers Stadium by the 4pm kickoff for the Cowboys' semi-final against the New Zealand Warriors. If the heat is oppressive, doctors from both clubs could introduce a one-minute drinks break midway through each half, an extended 15-minute halftime break and have all three trainers carrying water bottles.
There are concerns for the Warriors players, who are coming from a 13C climate in Auckland and will be wearing black jumpers. Having home ground advantage, the Cowboys have opted to wear their white away jumpers rather than the blue home strip - forcing New Zealand to wear black.
But North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr told The Daily Telegraph last night each half should be a continuous 40 minutes. "We don't get to use heaters over in Auckland after 20 minutes of each half," Parr said. "We do have to consider the welfare of our players but it is a finals game. "I would have thought we'd play under the same rules as normal, where you play 40 minutes straight through. I don't think the Warriors would be expecting a break either. "Maybe a bit more is being made about the heat than it should be."
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club's medical staff were best qualified to make the decision over the heat. "It will be something best left to the medical people," he said. "But if they agree that it (the heat measures) should be done for the players' welfare, then it should happen. There's been a lot of debate about the heat. But the game is on at 4pm, not midday, so hopefully the sun won't be on the field with the grandstands there at Dairy Farmers."
Asked about having to wear black jumpers, Scurrah said: "That's our colour. There are no complaints about having to wear black."
The Warriors are, however, yet to apply to the NRL to have additional water breaks during the game. NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said player welfare was crucial. "We have had rules in place all year that cater for the possibility of extreme heat," Annesley said. "If the two club doctors agree some relief is required, the heat measures we can introduce are there to make sure everything possible is done to protect player welfare."
The Cowboys are keen to use the heat to their psychological advantage. Hooker David Faiumu said: "Sunday at four o'clock. It doesn't get any hotter than that in Australia." Cowboys coach Graham Murray added: "It will be a hot day up here on Sunday, no doubt about that."
