NRL plans four different draws to complete season 2020 following coronavirus

The NRL has drawn up multiple scenarios for when rugby league can resume and they all involve the competition going into October and possibly late November. DETAILS HERE

The NRL has devised four alternate draws to complete season 2020.

• ‘Dramatic’ change forces staggering NRL shutdown
• Buzz: Rugby league will never be the same again

The NRL has produced four new versions of the 2020 playing schedule to kickstart the premiership in June, July, August or September.

In a worst-case scenario, if play cannot be resumed by September 1 then the NRL will accept defeat and cancel the 2020 season.

Details of the proposed draw changes will be revealed to the 16 clubs on Friday at a telephone hook-up.

All scenarios involve the competition going into October and possibly late November, with June the earliest return date for rugby league as the nation goes into lockdown to try and limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Panthers and Dragons were due to play again in Round 21 but that could be scrapped under the new schedules the NRL is looking at. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

The NRL on Monday suspended its 2020 season indefinitely following the decision by the Queensland state government to shut its borders, which made it all-but impossible for rugby league to continue.

The NRL has stressed the premiership will remain in lockdown until the safety of the players is assured.

One scenario to start in August involves teams playing each other once.

There would be 13 more rounds on top of the two already played with the finals at night in November.

If the season is delayed until August then all finals will be played at night to avoid the heat in November. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

A start any later that September 1 would prove too difficult for the NRL to schedule in a window that wouldn’t prove detrimental to the 2021 season start.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has vowed that the NRL will do everything in its power to save every club from going under — but concedes there are no guarantees the greatest game of all will ever be the same again.

No decision has been made on the schedule for State of Origin, but it appears more likely that it will be pushed to the end of the year to enable the already disrupted season to finish.

Clint Gutherson and the Parramatta Eels will resume the NRL season on top of the table, whle the Gold Coast Titans will be propping up the ladder. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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The NRL finished a phone hook-up with club bosses on Tuesday, where all clubs have been told they will receive their full $1.2 million monthly payment on April 1.

Clubs were also told a meeting with the Rugby League Players Association will take place in the next 24 hours regarding player pay.

Brisbane’s Paul White, Canterbury’s Andrew Hill, South Sydney’s Blake Solly and the Sydney Roosters’ Joe Kelly will participate in negotiations with the NRL.

Originally published as NRL plans four different draws to complete season 2020 following coronavirus