NRL Monday Bunker: Games must continue amid coronavirus pandemic

The NRL’s decision to continue the 2020 season amid the coronavirus crisis has divided opinion in the rugby league world, but it’s a call that had to be made.

• Why NRL chose to play through coronavirus crisis

• TIPS.COM.AU: Over $2 million in prizes to be won

Play on or perish.

The NRL’s decision to continue its season amid the coronavirus crisis has divided opinion in the rugby league world, but it’s a call that had to be made.

“We just can’t hit pause on the game, financially the game just can’t afford it,” The Daily Telegraph’s Fatima Kdouh told the Monday Bunker.

“We know that the game might be in dire straits if we were to postpone the season even for just a month.

Watch the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO. Every game of every round LIVE & Ad-Break Free during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Watch The Daily Telegraph's latest Monday Bunker video.

“I spoke to (Bulldogs players) Josh Jackson and Aiden Tolman - two of the more senior players not only in that group but in the game - and they both want to play,” she added.

“They’re trusting that the NRL is making the best decision for them. Josh Jackson was like empty ANZ Stadium or not he wants to play footy this weekend.”

FOOTY TIPS! Join Australia’s best footy tipping competition for your chance to win big. Add our experts to your league and join now at TIPS.COM.AU.

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith broke ranks on Sunday and urged the NRL to suspend the season for the next two weeks, claiming he and his Melbourne teammates are concerned for their families’ health - a stance that has won plenty of support.

“I think he made some very good points,” The Daily Telegraph’s Adam Mobbs said of the Storm skipper.

“He said some really interesting things around families and players and things outside of rugby league that we don’t look at times.”

Originally published as NRL Monday Bunker: Games must continue amid coronavirus pandemic