Family and housemates the biggest risk to code’s return

NRL players who live with large families, or tradie housemates, have been identified as the biggest risk to rugby league’s return

Coaches are determined to do the right thing, says RLCA boss Kelly Egan

Sydney NRL players who live with large families, or tradie housemates, have been identified as the biggest risk to bringing down rugby league’s proposed return to action on May 28.

As the Australian Rugby League Commission and Project Apollo continue working through strict new protocols surrounding the game’s return, it can be revealed a key concern among Sydney clubs is not so much the players as those they live with.

In a telephone hook-up between all 16 NRL coaches on Wednesday, the group agreed to heavily police their playing groups to ensure all players adhered to the impending guidelines, which are set to be finalised on Friday.

Yet the talk among some Sydney clubs has been how they encourage those people sharing a house with their players to be as vigilant, even though they will not be subject to NRL policing or fines.

While the Warriors and interstate teams will likely restart the season in their own individual “bubbles”, players from Sydney clubs could be allowed stay at home.

Which has been a big discussion point within some franchises. As one club official put it: “While the NRL increases restrictions over coming weeks, the rest of Sydney will be easing out of them.

“So what does that mean for players who live with parents, siblings, uncles, even cousins who suddenly want to be getting themselves back to work, or meet with a friend for coffee, go to the beach, a mate’s backyard gym, whatever?

“Some of our players live in big families. There are also those who live with mates who are tradies and so on.

“Then there’s players whose housemates are involved in those lower grade (NSWRL) competitions that have been cancelled.

“So how do we encourage all these people who aren’t involved in the NRL to be as committed to isolating, or at least doing all the right things as the players? That’s where clubs will need to be vigilant.”

Undoubtedly, that vigilance is set to start from the top, with a meeting of the Rugby League Coaches Association on Wednesday afternoon agreeing that much of the policing will need to be done by them.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has also employed a leading biochemical expert to formalise a set of strict health and safety guidelines which, expected to be announced Friday, will carry heavy fines for those who breach them.

“Coaches are going to make sure players understand the boundaries and don’t go outside them,” RLCA chief executive Kelly Egan said.

“To mitigate infection, the coaches spoke about being really vigilant to make sure the players are doing the right thing.

“We all want to support the NRL with the protocols so we can get back to playing as quickly as we can.”

Kelly said the coaches also reiterated their support for the return to playing protocols, particularly with how clubs conduct themselves within individual training programs.

“Everyone is committed to abiding by the rules,” he added. “And we did flag again that was really imperative that not only are coaches doing the right thing, but their playing groups are doing the right thing. It’s the coaches who have to enforce those rules.”

Meanwhile, the NSW Rugby League wants grassroots football to resume in July, but the NRL’s reserve grade competition will remain cancelled due to the coronavirus. NSWRL boss Dave Trodden confirmed on Wednesday it was working towards resuming the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and women’s premiership on July 18. All park football will also be back, ranging from under-6s to open age with 100,000 participants involved across the entire state.

But the top-tier competitions, including NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup will not return.

Largely that is due to the crossover with NRL clubs where all contracted players in the top squad will be forced into quarantine when the game returns.

Daily Telegraph, AAP