‘Shred of decency’: Outrage over NRL cyclone move
The NRL thought it had come up with the best solution to combat Cyclone Alfred, but the league’s “callous” approach is now getting torn to shreds.
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The NRL clearly thought it had come up with the best solution to combat Cyclone Alfred — but the league forgot one vital detail that has sparked outrage.
Bree Nikorima, the wife of Dolphins five-eighth Kody Nikorima, on Tuesday night lifted the lid on the angst being felt by the wives and partners of NRL players in Queensland after the league announced its decision to go-ahead with Round 1 fixtures caught up in the tropical storm hitting the eastern cost of Australia.
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NRL officials came in for further criticism on Wednesday morning over the league’s decision to take a different approach to rival footy code the AFL, which has scrapped the two fixtures scheduled to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane and the Gold Coast Sun’s home venue at People First Stadium.
The AFL made a call following advice from the Queensland government about public safety measures being put in place that would have made it impossible for the season-opening match between the Lions and Geelong in Brisbane on Thursday to go ahead.
The AFL on Tuesday backflipped to move the Gabba fixture to Round 3 when the Cats and Lions both have a bye scheduled.
The clash between the Suns and Bombers will likely take place at a later date during the 2025 season. The two clubs do not share any bye rounds making it more difficult for the league to re-schedule.
That decision means Lions and Suns players do not have to worry about preparing and playing in their first matches of the season.
It is very different in the NRL where Broncos and Dolphins players have flown down to Sydney to play their first games of the season.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is making landfall in Brisbane on Thursday. Massive waves, isolated rainfalls of up to 700mm and “damaging to destructive winds” are forecast to batter millions of residents.
The Dolphins were scheduled to play the Rabbitohs on Friday night in Brisbane, however, that game has now been moved to CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
The NRL said it “made the decision today to allow for the appropriate changes to be implemented and acknowledges and thanks both the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs for their approach and co-operation”.
The league added “the safety of players, fans and the community were the highest priority when considering the venue change”.
The NRL said ticket holders to the match at Suncorp Stadium are advised that the Dolphins will be in touch as soon as possible with further information around options.
The Round 17 match between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs will now become a Dolphins home fixture.
Similar to Dolphins players and their families, Broncos players flew to Sydney on Tuesday ahead of their Thursday season-opener at Allianz Stadium against the Roosters.
That means Broncos players will be away from their families and homes when the cyclone is raging. Depending on public safety measures and the potential of non-emergency flights into Queensland being cancelled, Dolphins and Broncos players could be stranded in Sydney for several days.
It is a nightmare scenario that leading Aussie sport commentator Gerard Whateley has described as “callous”.
The Fox Footy 360 host said the NRL would be showing a “shred of humanity” by re-scheduling the matches to allow Broncos and Dolphins players to remain with their families.
His comments were in response to Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale on Tuesday night saying he would have refused to travel and play if the AFL moved the club’s Thursday match to Victoria.
Neale told AFL 360 that unless family members were also to be transported, he would have refused to play.
“I think my first opinion on that would have been I wouldn’t have played, I would have stayed here with Jules and the kids, and we have a dog here as well,” Neale told Fox Footy.
“So, unless they were willing to fly families as well — which on pretty short notice I’m not sure they could have organised that — but if they were able to fly families out of town and we could have sorted out the dog, then I would’ve done it, but I wouldn’t have left Jules (Neale’s wife) here with our three-year-old daughter and a 10-week, 11-week-old little boy.
“I wouldn’t have played.”
Whateley, speaking on SEN on Wednesday, did not hold back.
“The decision (from the AFL) was quite rightly made that you can’t be asking players and staff to leave their families and homes at a time of maximum anxiety and real threat,” he said.
“At least one partner of an NRL player is extremely unhappy about the callous approach, talking about ‘Football can’t be that important. Disgusting. Do better. Vomit emoji’.”
He went on to say: “A shred of humanity doesn’t go astray at these times”.
That is no doubt how many wives and girlfriends of footballers are feeling.
Nikorima earlier posted on Instagram: “Leaving the families behind to ride out the direct line of cyclone alone. Some with no support at all.
“I’m 6 months pregnant with 2 young kids in an area that can flood, disgusting.”
“Do better @nrl,” she added with a vomit emoji.
Broncos forward Payne Haas is one of many that will not be with his family for the next few days.
He and partner Leilani Mohenoa welcomed their second child in December.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy told Code Sports players would have the club’s full support if they decided not to travel.
“Our welfare people are all across it, they are the best in the business and we’re making the families have everything they need to be as prepared as they can for the next few days,” Donaghy said.
The AFL earlier came under fire for its handling of the crisis with chief executive Andrew Dillon on Monday saying a call on the game could be made in the hours leading up to the opening bounce.
“The priority is that we do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of everyone in and around any potential cyclone zone or community impacted by the forecast heavy rains and storm surges.” Dillon said.
“It is a very uncertain situation that is unfolding, and our thoughts are with everyone in southeast Queensland and northern NSW that may be impacted. Ultimately, we hope this weather event doesn’t eventuate, but we know everyone needs to prepare accordingly and we don’t want our games to be a distraction to those preparations.”
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