Coronavirus crisis: Why ‘catastrophic’ NRL warning is no joke
A tongue-in-cheek response to a question about seeking funding from the government was frowned upon by some but what Peter V’Landys outlined about rugby league’s fight for survival is no laughing matter.
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Peter V’landys is not being selfish to want to see the NRL competition play on as the world tries to come to grips with the coronavirus crisis.
In fact, it is his responsibility as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman to do everything in his power to try to keep the game going.
V’landys has also been criticised for saying that he will chase a taxpayer funded handout with the figure of $200 million mentioned. His tongue-in-cheek response to a question at Sunday’s media conference was that he would start negotiating at $500 million and work down.
It was frowned upon by some.
It was a joke — get over it you sooks.
What I admired about V’landys was how he wanted to fight for our game’s survival because he has looked at the books.
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And he knows better than anyone this will be a financial “catastrophe” within months if the game is shut down.
I loved how he said that the NRL was now a “can-do organisation and if it can be done it will be done”.
Those same people criticising V’landys are also too quick to dismiss Wayne Bennett’s idea of implementing a Magic Round-type month of football where players and coaching staff could be quarantined away from the rest of society.
These naysayers complain that the logistics would make it too difficult, and that there are not enough stadiums and hotels in Townsville or Darwin to house the players, where the warmer weather might reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
Who said players had to be housed in five-star hotels? What about the local army barracks? And who said the games had to all be played at big stadiums? There aren’t going to be any crowds regardless.
This is about financial survival. And if players want to continue to earn enormous wages they might have to make sacrifices.
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V’landys made it very clear the NRL had sought the best expertise in biosecurity and pandemics and that they would not put any player at undue risk.
For too long rugby league has been administered by people who are too quick to knock down good ideas and find questions instead of answers. For once we have a bloke in charge who wants to take charge.
Don’t bag him for that.
Like V’landys said, right now we need rugby league. And this wouldn’t be the Australia we know and love without it.
Originally published as Coronavirus crisis: Why ‘catastrophic’ NRL warning is no joke
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