NRL chief medical officer reveals safety concerns for New Zealand-England Denver test
THE planned Kiwi-England Denver Test has again come under fire after the NRL’s chief medical officer expressed grave concerns for player welfare.
NRL
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THE planned Denver Test has again come under fire after the NRL’s chief medical officer expressed grave concerns for player welfare during a telephone hook-up with some of the game’s heavyweights earlier this week.
Club bosses Shane Richardson and Peter Doust met with the NRL’s chief operating officer Nick Weeks and the Rugby League Players Association’s general manager of player relations Clint Newton to outline their fears regarding the groundbreaking Test match between New Zealand and England in June.
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The group was joined by NRL chief medical officer Paul Bloomfield via telephone hook-up where the Daily Telegraph has learnt that Bloomfield had some serious apprehensions regarding player safety.
A host of NRL clubs are severely reluctant for the game to go ahead with their concerns largely twofold but they fear a potential standoff with some of the game’s best player if they refuse to support the match.
The clubs are distressed the toll the travel could take on some of their stars with an extremely short turnaround between games plus there are severe distresses surrounding insurance of players.
Players will be insured 100 per cent of their contract value up to two years.
Those who are picked will arrive back from the Test match on Tuesday and be expected to play less than 48 hours later when the NRL resumes following a break for the representative weekend.
Kiwi-based NRL players have been instructed they would leave Sydney on June 18 for a business class flight to either Los Angeles or San Francisco. There will then be a domestic transfer with two hour economy flight to Denver.
Two of the Dragons best players — including Gareth Widdop and James Graham — are due to play for the Dragons against the Eels less than 48 hours after returning to Australia. Widdop and Graham have spoken publicly about their desire to play in the match, The Warriors — who could have up to nine players representing the Kiwis — have to play the Sharks — who are the only team not to be impacted by this match — on the Friday.
While each country will pocket $500,000 for agreeing to play — players are yet to be advised how much they will receive.