Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:23 am  

Alright for some. Well done to the NRL,
NRL 'definitely' restarting on May 28, says Australian Rugby League commissioner

The NRL has the green light from government to restart on May 28 with teams set to begin training on May 4, Australian Rugby League commissioner Wayne Pearce has confirmed.

After two days of meetings and ahead of further talks with the NRL clubs, Pearce on Wednesday said the finer details of the competition structure were still being finalised but, "everyone is supportive of what we're doing. Everyone is unified into getting back on the field".

"We reaffirmed that May 28 is the starting date for the competition. We also confirmed that teams will be able to train from May 4," he said.

The NRL competition was suspended last month after two rounds were played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Strict international and domestic travel restrictions and social distancing policies meant group practice sessions at all clubs were cancelled and teams from New Zealand and Queensland state went into lockdown. Sports leagues and events around the world have been cancelled or postponed during the pandemic, although baseball leagues in Taiwan and South Korea have either just resumed or are about to start.

Pearce said government authorities he had been dealing with supported the resumption of the league, although there's still no clarity on whether the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys from Queensland state and the Warriors from New Zealand will have to relocate to short-term bases closer to Sydney to be involved in the competition.

Pearce said meetings on Wednesday of Project Apollo - the league's innovation committee - provided better clarity on the medical process and protocols that need to be put in place for games to go ahead.

"We feel like we owe it to not just the players and coaches but the thousands of staff members at various clubs and associated industries that are out on the unemployment lines, too," Pearce said.

He said the competition standings from the first two rounds will be carried into the next phase of the season.

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:05 pm  

Now confirmed re NRL. Training from the 4th May with the 28th for the restart. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/52381603

Now confirmed re NRL. Training from the 4th May with the 28th for the restart. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/52381603

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:24 pm  

I watched the latter NRL games that were screened behind closed doors and never noticed that there was no crowds, not because they are normally quiet but the commentary was constant, witty and very knowledgable by ex players who have been there and got the T shirt not like the top club love fest of our pundits. Hope it does start I’ve nearly run out of Wakey games to watch

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Fri Apr 24, 2020 4:00 pm  

Doesn't really say anything that we don't already fear, but we get mentioned as one of the clubs that could potentially be at risk.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/52414237

Doesn't really say anything that we don't already fear, but we get mentioned as one of the clubs that could potentially be at risk.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/52414237

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Fri Apr 24, 2020 5:10 pm  

Hull FC in bother been refused a loan or grant Pearson having a rant in HDM

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:02 pm  

They mention the clubs that will be ok but Wigan have been in the red year after year and that’s when they have been playing, I think there’s going to be very nervous chairmen at these so called big clubs.

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:29 pm  

Big lads mate wrote:

They mention the clubs that will be ok but Wigan have been in the red year after year and that’s when they have been playing, I think there’s going to be very nervous chairmen at these so called big clubs.

BLM I totally agree they have been carrying debts and this looks like a possible door closer to some of these Govt schemes.
I know that fans of our club have rallied through various initiatives such as Trin TV and the lottery etc.

Hopefully we are putting enough in for the club to tread water. It's been a good plan to get this done sooner rather than later. Some of the club's have massive overheads but as for assets many only have players and in this crisis and beyond the value may be very much reduced in fact at this moment in time players are worth a lot less from an asset point of view and this could also impact the ability to access loans and grants.

It could take months for the Govt to look at how it will support Sports and that might be too late for some teams and I don't just mean RL

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:33 pm  

Big lads mate wrote:

They mention the clubs that will be ok but Wigan have been in the red year after year and that’s when they have been playing, I think there’s going to be very nervous chairmen at these so called big clubs.

I would imagine BLM that (Dirty) Leeds are in the brown stuff too - based on their salaries and debt for Headingley.

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:17 am  

The media always like to point the finger at us, Wigan, Saints, Warrington etc will be in deep sheet, the players at these clubs will be on massive contracts compared with ours. Sad days for all.

Re: The Long Road To Rugby League Return : Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:18 am  

Pearson was talking about situation at Hull yesterday