Coast sport bosses rage against regulations that could send clubs bankrupt

“I’ve got no idea what these people are thinking,” RLGC chairman Peter Daley said. “It’s a joke the way the Queensland Government are handling the situation.”

The Gold Coast’s biggest community sporting bosses have joined in the chorus condeming the controversial government return to play regulations.

Rugby League Gold Coast boss Peter Daley said the current restrictions would bankrupt local clubs.

“I’ve got no idea what these people are thinking,” he said.

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“These protocols that have been put forward, it’s a joke the way the Queensland Government are handling the situation.

Rugby League Gold Coast chairman Peter (Pete) Daley.

“This ‘little bit of this, little bit of that approach’ will send our clubs broke.”

Gold Coast District Rugby Union chairman Kim Bending said the tight restrictions threatened the total cancellation of rugby union on the Coast in 2020.

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“Our game is right on the edge at this stage, and we’ve got a meeting next month to see if our club presidents want to abide by the protocols,” he said.

“If they don’t we may not have a competition because it’s just not practical.”

The Australian Army are partnering with the Gold Coast Cyclones representative rugby Kim Bending Chairman Gold Coast and District Rugby Union. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Gold Coast Magic United general manager Adem Poric said the government’s restraints made returning to play logistically impractical if not impossible.

Poric said his club anticipated a participation downturn of 10 per cent but would still need to juggle 400 players across two fields at the club.

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“It becomes an impossible task,” Poric said.

“We’ll be training until midnight every night because we don’t have the room or the time (to safely train 20 players at a time).

LNP Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek talking with Football Gold Coast General Manger Damien Bresic and Gold Coast Magic United President Adem Poric about the crushing impacts of Coronavirus on sports clubs and the Palaszczuk Labor GovernmentÕs confusing messages on restrictions at weekend sport. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I agree with what the government are doing in principle but there needs to be some common sense.

“They’ve got to look at a (case-by-case approach) and break it down into the sports, and if the numbers don’t work for them then tell us that it’s over.”

Poric said the government would be better served calling off all sport than forcing clubs to limit visitors to 100.