Friday’s NRL Nines games disrupted by power outage amid searing heat in Perth

The first day of the NRL Nines got off to a rocky start, with almost 500 players and staff forced to work and recover from games in the West Australian heat without air conditioning.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 14: Isaiah Papali'i of the Warriors reacts after a try by the Knights during Day 1 of the 2020 NRL Nines match between the Warriors and Knights at HBF Park on February 14, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

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If you thought your team looked off the pace and flat on day one of the NRL Nines in Perth, this might be the reason why.

Almost 500 NRL players and staff, including millions of dollars worth of NRL talent, were forced to prepare and recover from their matches on day one of the Nines without power.

With temperatures reaching 43 degrees, all 16 teams had no air conditioning and were unable to use key recovery tools, including weigh-in machines to measure dehydration levels.

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The Warriors’ Isaiah Papali'i feels the heat. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The NRL provides every team with an enclosed marquee behind the eastern grandstand at HBF Park to prepare, relax and recover from their matches.

But because there was no air conditioning, the temperatures inside the marquees were considered so offensive that some teams decided to conduct their post-match massages outside in the sun.

Several teams described the marquees as a “sauna.”

Hot day here in Perth 😩 Great to watch the NRL Nines in Perth and see our players out on the field 👋🏾😎 @NRL @WRugbyLeague #NRL9s #NRLNines pic.twitter.com/nrzVc6hCcE

— Prof Dr M Davis [-0-] (@mdavisqlder) February 14, 2020

The embarrassing situation also impacted Fox Sports’ broadcast with certain graphics unable to be implemented.

An NRL medical officer was required to oversee the situation as engineers worked to fix the power outage.

Electricians were still working to rectify the power issue late on Friday night.

The NRL weren’t hiding from the embarrassing situation, admitting that the problem had been rectified on Saturday with several back-up generators delivered to HBF Park for back-up.