NRL ponders one city-one venue for games to combat coronavirus

The NRL could base all their players in one city and play all their games out of one venue.

Cowboys fans pose with the Johnathan Thurston statue outside the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium before the start of the opening-round match against Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL could base all their players in one city and play all their games out of one venue under one of the proposals being considered to combat the coronavirus and prevent what would be a “catastrophic” outcome for the game.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys confirmed the concept had been discussed and shaped as one of the contingency plans as the game prepares to go into lockdown at the end of this weekend.

V’landys acknowledged it was vital that the games continued to be played given the commitment to broadcasters and the devastating impact any suspension of the competition could have on the bottom line of both the central body and the clubs.

“That is realistic,” V’landys said. “Our prime aim at the moment is to have the games played because without it, we are in big, big trouble and would need significant government support because you haven’t got the revenues but you still have most of the costs.

“We will look at every option to minimise the risk of not being able to play the game.”

Asked about the potential impact of a player being diagnosed with the virus — the Sharks confirmed on Friday that two players were isolated from training and the main player group due to them experiencing flu-like symptoms — V’landys said: “(That) would be catastrophic. Our prime objective is to keep the games being played. Whatever it takes.

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“That is front and centre, and everything. So if we have to take the most drastic action in order to achieve that, we will.”

One of the Sharks players, believed to be injured centre Bronson Xerri, has been tested for COVID-19 as a precaution.

At times during an alarming day for the code, there were genuine concerns that Friday night’s opening of the new stadium in Townsville would be played behind closed doors. Those fears eased when Prime Minister Scott Morrison fronted a press conference to announce that from Monday, the government was advising against large gatherings of 500 people or more because of the threat of coronavirus.

The good news was that the deadline allowed the NRL to press ahead with the opening round. However, from round two all games will be played behind closed doors, putting immense financial pressure on clubs and the central body.

The Weekend Australian was told it could cost the game up to $4m each week to play games without spectators and as it stands, there is no end in sight.

V’landys has already promised to back the clubs financially and it is understood the NRL began financially planning for the absence of crowds in recent weeks at the behest of the ARL Commission. Amid speculation that it could cost $10m to make up the clubs’ losses once the fears have eased, V’landys said: “It could be three or four times that. “You don’t know until you do the financial modelling. I asked for it to be done two weeks ago. They (the NRL) have been doing sensitivity analysis on everything. We’re looking at all the different financial models to make sure we can help the clubs as much as possible. We are in a reasonable financial situation but we are going to have to cut costs at the NRL.”

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg spoke to Mr Morrison late on Friday as well as NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.

He already had plenty on his plate given the conjecture over his future — a board meeting is scheduled for Thursday where a decision was expected to be made on a contract extension.

That decision is expected to be put on hold as Greenberg and the commission focus all their energies on fighting their way through a disturbing time for the game.

“First and foremost, we are in unprecedented times,” Greenberg said. “All NRL games in round one will continue to proceed as planned. In round two, when we get into the second week of competition, our games will continue to proceed as planned albeit with the stadium closed to fans.”

Asked when he expected the lockout to end, Greenberg said he couldn’t put a time frame on it.

“It’s going to have significant financial impact for all of our clubs and the game centrally,” Greenberg said. “The game will be right behind our 16 clubs.’’