Intrust Super Cup players losing football and day job wages
While NRL players try to protect their multimillion-dollar salaries from the game’s financial crisis, Intrust Super Cup players have suffered a double blow as the QRL puts all football on hold.
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A number of Intrust Super Cup players have suffered a double blow as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, not only losing their football income but also their day jobs.
The Queensland Rugby League announced last week that the governing body would suspend all football until June, including it’s premier competition, which features both NRL-contracted players and semi-professionals.
With training also shut down due to the health concerns of the coronavirus, the 14 clubs of the Intrust Super Cup have been adjusting to a new normal over the past week.
But the impact of the suspension is starting to take its toll on players, coaches and officials.
Like many across the country, players and coaches have started to lose their day jobs, or have been forced on leave without pay.
Combined with the fact many have also lost their income from playing rugby league, the enormity of the situation is starting to be felt.
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It is understood some players from Redcliffe, Burleigh and Souths Logan have been left without any source of income, while others from clubs such as Easts have been forced to scale back their work.
Burleigh Bears captain and builder Luke Page said he was doing everything he could to remain positive for his teammates who had lost their jobs, but the situation was weighing heavily on the playing group.
“A lot of the boys depended on that extra income with footy but that got cancelled and now they’ve lost their jobs,” he said.
“It’s a double whammy. They have no income whatsoever. It’s about 30 per cent of the team that have lost their job and their footy.
“It’s mind blowing what’s happening … It’s massive.
“My work’s pretty steady at the moment but if the government calls for a lockdown and we’re not allowed out there, it will be trouble for myself.
“I’m sure there’s 90 per cent of the population worried about that as well. We have to take care of each other and see what we can do.”
Souths Logan coach Jon Buchanan said he had also lost two players back to their home country of New Zealand after the nation decided to lock its borders.
One of those players in particular has been hit hard, and it rammed home to Buchanan how serious the situation has become.
“I had a couple of players ring to say they want to head home to New Zealand,” he said.
“I didn’t realise the impact until those two conversations on Monday. One of those guys in particular lost his job two weeks ago and his partner lost her job last week.
“They’re trying to pay rent and he said he needed to get home because he can live with family back home.
“I totally understand that. That’s where it sunk in a bit. When your players are ringing almost in tears, footy is a distant priority on their list.”
Easts Tigers have gone into a two-week shutdown, similar to their Christmas break.
Despite no reported job losses, there have been a number of players who have had their work scaled back or forced on holidays.
It is understood Wynnum Manly have also seen several players return to New Zealand, and Ipswich are concerned about the future of the staff who work at their club.
Townsville are expected to have a board meeting on Wednesday evening to determine what steps they will take next, while clubs like Norths and Sunshine Coast are trying to maintain a positive mindset as they ride out the storm.
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At Redcliffe, it is believed four players have lost their jobs, while coach Adam Mogg has also had to shut down his gym on the Sunshine Coast.
However, the premiership-winning boss told The Courier-Mail that the most important thing for him was to see everyone band together in testing times.
“Our guys are no different to the rest of community,” Mogg said.
“What we need right now is to band together as a community and stay active.
“(The gym shutting) will be a huge financial loss to my family but we are healthy, have two feet and a heartbeat, so we’ll stay active and get back into business when all this is over.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work but the backbone of our country is hard work.”
A QRL spokesman said wellbeing officers were staying in contact with all 14 clubs as much as possible.
Originally published as Intrust Super Cup players losing football and day job wages