NRL 2020 season: Broncos, Titans and Cowboys could be hurdle to post-Coronavirus resumption
The three Queensland-based sides have thrown a spanner into plans to get the NRL season back underway, as the game prepares for one of the most important meetings in its history.
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The Broncos, Cowboys and Titans have appealed for the NRL to keep them in Queensland, expressing concern for the mental health of their players if ordered to go into a self-isolation program in Sydney.
The NRL fraternity is sweating on one of the important meetings in rugby league history on Thursday when the innovation committee formalises a plan to overcome the COVID-19 saga and revive the premiership sometime this season.
The committee, chaired by ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce, will thrash out a number of options to expedite the return of the NRL on May 28.
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They include playing more games in Queensland as part of a two-conference system, or asking all 16 clubs to lockdown in western Sydney, with 480 players to enter a 14-day self-isolation program in individual rooms.
But NRL sources have told The Courier-Mail the idea of shifting the entire competition into a Homebush lockdown has major challenges, not least engendering the support of the three Queensland clubs, who have expressed their preference to remain north of the border.
Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel is concerned about the welfare of North Queensland players if forced to leave their families behind to enter Sydney self-isolation.
“We will listen to all options naturally, but our preference is to stay in Queensland,” he said.
“It’s a huge ask for our players to go into self-isolation in Sydney. My priority is the welfare of our players and their families.
“If the conference system is put into play, one conference hosted in Queensland is something that should be seriously considered.
“We would much rather be playing at home in Queensland or even better North Queensland.
“I’m no pandemic expect but the larger the group in one cluster, the greater the risk of infection I imagine.
“We need to look at what is safest for the players and staff and what it actually means to go into self-isolation.”
The NRL remains hopeful a self-isolation program can be avoided if infection rates from the coronavirus pandemic plummet in coming weeks in NSW and Queensland.
The Broncos have created a self-isolation bunker at Red Hill containing 30 beds. Brisbane boss Paul White believes Queensland is the perfect option to host a non-Sydney conference.
“Of course our preference is to stay in Queensland,” he said.
“We have already indicated that we have the ability to isolate our players in our own facility if required.
“Brisbane, and Queensland, have a number of top-class facilities that would fit the bill if it came down to hosting multiple teams for training and playing competition games.
“We played a home game at Suncorp Stadium without a crowd the weekend before the season was suspended and that was well-handled by all concerned.
“It should also be said that Queensland’s health authorities have handled the COVID-19 crisis as well as any other state government across Australia.”
Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell urged the NRL to keep his squad on the Gold Coast.
“If there is a way to get the competition going again which is reasonable for all stakeholders and won’t expose any of our players to risk, then we will push forward with it,” he said.
“We would prefer to remain here bunkered down close to home and continue as it is.
“Relocation players adds a level of strain to our players and staff.
“Being self-isolated for 14 days is a tough ask for the players. I know a few people who have done it and it takes some real mental resilience. To do it with 400 players in one location would have its challenges, but we’ll explore the models put forward.
“Conferences seem to make sense on face value, but making it work is the issue especially when there’s government restrictions in place.
“I’m looking forward to the committee meeting (today) to get some clarity.
“We want to play but we need to do it within the realms of safety.”
Originally published as NRL 2020 season: Broncos, Titans and Cowboys could be hurdle to post-Coronavirus resumption