Peter V’landys believes a 16-team NRL competition can relaunch before July 1st
The NRL is currently exploring plans that would clear the way for the resumption of the premiership with new data emerging regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
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ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is armed with coronavirus data he believes will clear the NRL premiership for takeoff as the Warriors look to answer a ‘May Day’ call to take part in a fully-fledged 16-team competition.
News Corp can reveal NRL hierarchy is discussing Warriors players flying back to Australia in May to undergo a 14-day self-isolation program to ensure they are medically fit for a premiership relaunch in June or July.
While the code will require government exemptions or a softening of border restrictions to allow re-entry to Australia, V’landys is in possession of medical records that could open the door for the Warriors to return to the NRL fold.
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The NRL had initially hoped to resume by September 1. Then the newly-formed innovation committee, chaired by Wayne Pearce, outlined its ‘Operation Apollo’ plan for the NRL to kick-off again in July, the month of NASA’s moon landing in 1969.
Now, V’landys is more bullish, revealing the COVID-19 statistics that demonstrate why the NRL is bracing for the green light to revive the 2020 premiership.
“The data I have been given shows it is safer for us to play now than when we stopped the competition,” V’landys told News Corp.
“When we announced the shutdown (on March 23) the infection rate in NSW (for coronavirus) was 22.27 per cent.
“When we were playing (in round one), it was 32.21 per cent ... and now the infection rate is down to 3.96pc in NSW.
“The latest advice we have is that the infection rate is coming down.
“There were fears the infection rate might double, but the data I’ve been given shows it has dropped dramatically in the 10 or so days since we stopped the competition.”
The Warriors remain a key plank in the NRL’s Operation Apollo objectives.
For the 16-team competition to be wholly credible, the NRL needs the participation of the Warriors and talks with government authorities are underway for the New Zealand-based outfit to eventually return to Australia soil.
The Warriors returned to New Zealand after their round-two clash against Canberra two weeks ago.
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News Corp understands the NRL are making plans to relocate the Warriors sometime in May. That would allow Warriors coach Steve Kearney and his squad to go into a fortnight’s self-isolation with a view to being NRL operational from June onwards.
Asked if the NRL will start again on July 1 - the innovation committee’s target date - V’landys said: “I don’t think it will be July 1, I think it will be earlier.
“I can’t provide an exact date because the next two to three days (of coronavirus estimates) will be crucial.
“If the infection rate stays below 10 per cent that is promising. At 22 per cent, people were allowed to gather socially, and now they aren’t.
“There is a lot less risk now to the NRL premiership resuming than there was two weeks ago because as a society we have locked down.
“We put Wayne Pearce on the innovation committee because he is a ‘can-do’ man, that’s why I picked him.
“We have a can-do committee so I’m very confident we will start the premiership sooner rather than later.”