Coronavirus NRL impact: Manly owner Scott Penn trapped in New York lockdown

Manly chairman Scott Penn has spoken of the rising death toll and horrors taking over New York, a city gripped with fear and anxiety at the centre of the Coronavirus crisis.

People wear masks as they walk in mid-town New York. Picture: Getty

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Scott Penn is sitting in his Brooklyn apartment listening to wailing sirens as he looks across the East River towards downtown Manhattan.

“And I have just seen another four ambulances in the time you started this interview a few minutes ago,” says the Manly chairman and majority shareholder.

Penn spoke to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday about the horror of living in New York, a city gripped with fear and anxiety during the coronavirus crisis.

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People wear masks as they walk in mid-town New York. Picture: Getty

New York is the centre of the US outbreak, with the death toll heading towards 5000 as officials warn they may need to turn city parks into burial grounds.

Penn’s wife, Nicole, has friends who have lost relatives.

Penn walks home from work at night along Washington Street in Dumbo. The area now is totally deserted.

There was a spot by the river where tourists, just a month ago, stopped for selfies with Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan as a backdrop.

“It is eerie,” Penn said.

“It’s particularly eerie at night. We live in a part of the city which is typically a tourist area and now there are literally no tourists. It is a very strange feeling to have so few people around.

Deserted: The Brooklyn Bridge. Pic: Scott Penn

Washington St, Brooklyn. Pic: Scott Penn

“I have an office I still go to regularly which isn’t far from our apartment. Because of the time difference (with Australia) I am often coming back late at night and there’s no one on the streets. It’s a new feeling.

“There is a constant stream of ambulances. We look over the Manhattan Bridge over to Manhattan where the FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) Drive runs. You would previously see a handful of ambulances a day, now you see them every hour.

“There are a number of people we know who have it (coronavirus). Nicole has friends who have relatives that have passed from it. That is incredibly sad and difficult. Most people are walking around wearing masks.

“The streets are empty other than a few locals walking dogs and exercising. If there is anyone around then they’re probably not around for the right reasons

Manly Sea Eagles owner Scott Penn and his family in New York

“Washington Street in Dumbo has one of the most famous views in Brooklyn. You look through the Manhattan Bridge to the Empire State Building. It’s a classic Instagram shot.

“That street has hundreds there every night taking selfies. Now, there isn’t anyone, not a soul.”

“There are 600, 700 a day (dying in New York) at the moment. It’s confronting and there is definitely anxiety but we have to deal with it.

“This really is a war through a virus. It’s about trying to stay calm in an unprecedented environment and uncertain world.”

Trying to stay upbeat, Penn said Manly’s perennial issues – and previous political infighting – had prepared him for any battle.

“The trials and tribulations of managing the Sea Eagles over 15 years has battle-hardened me, to be honest,” Penn said.

“From a crisis-management point of view, I’m unfortunately well versed.”

The squabbling at Manly is insignificant compared to the horrors facing New York. Picture: Getty

Penn lives in Brooklyn roughly six months a year with wife Nicole and young children Isabella and Jack. They wear face masks when leaving the apartment. Penn also has a family in Australia.

“I want to get back to Australia as soon as I can,” Penn said. “It about keeping a close eye on the Government releases in each country. I have two boys in Australia and a young family here. The important thing is to try and maintain both and the boys in Australia are in good hands.

“It’s a very different landscape to how it was just four weeks ago. It has changed very quickly. The thing we know is that we didn’t cause this and everyone in the world is dealing with the same thing.”

“New York is such an amazing city which is founded on a balance of core business, people living in the city and tourists. It’s an absolutely melting pot of a multitude of people, which is a reason why they took a long time to make a decision to lock down, because there were so many tourists and the economy is so important.”

The city that never sleeps is caught in a deadly slumber.

“My helicopter view about how it has been managed in Australia, it’s been managed incredibly well. The fact is we will get through this,” Penn said.

Originally published as Coronavirus NRL impact: Manly owner Scott Penn trapped in New York lockdown