The NRL will get the support of the NSW government should it proceed with plans to resume its competition as soon as late May.
The NRL could resume its competition as early as May 21 and the restart will receive the backing of the NSW government.
With the ARL Commission to decide on Thursday when and how it will resume its competition, the state government is supporting a restart.
According to NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, the NRL is the tonic Australia needs to endure the deadly coronavirus.
Barilaro described watching rugby league as being fundamentally Australian, and it is important some sort of normality is achieved during the crisis.
“You measure risk versus the economic uplift, the social uplift, the mental wellbeing uplift,” Barilaro said on Fox League Live.
“And there’s no doubt that the NRL is the tonic we need to get through this virus.”
An innovative committee will present a number of proposals to the Commission, including temporarily relocating non-Sydney teams to the harbour city.
How long the likes of Brisbane, North Queensland, Gold Coast, Melbourne and the Warriors stay in Sydney depends on interstate travel restrictions.
It is understood some teams could be housed in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, while the Panthers Rugby League Academy is another option.
Barilaro said the league would have the government’s backing to restart its season, which was suspended after round two, to resume as early as May 21.
He hailed ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys for the way he kept the racing industry going during the pandemic.
“I’m a big fan of Peter V’landys and what he’s done with racing. Racing continues as we speak. They’ve put in all the protocols and measures,” Barilaro said.
“And we’ve got to be flexible enough to work with the NRL.
“We need this more than ever before. Of course, the government will have to put some level of support into it. There’s no question about that.
“We’ll do that when there is an ask and plan pitched to government.”
Barilaro’s comments come after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hinted at restrictions being loosened in a couple of weeks.
Barilaro also said having the NRL back would provide a mental lift for the nation.
“I’m confident that rugby league will lift the hopes and spirits of our nation and I know we’ve got a Prime Minister that loves his league,” he said.
“You’ve got supporters at state government level. I believe it’s got to be one of the first moves to get the NRL going again.”
jamesb
Roar Guru
And yet horse racing has been continuing all along.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I'm curious of the response when one of the players tested positive. And it's when, not if.
Adam
Roar Guru
The betting agencies will open some markets soon on who wins what off field
Stevo
Roar Rookie
"Barilaro described watching rugby league as being fundamentally Australian, and it is important some sort of normality is achieved during the crisis." Really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Considering the games will be played in front of empty stadiums, I’m astounded the NRL hasn’t involved the broadcasters in their planning. Yet more evidence of how Mickey Mouse the NRL administration is.
Big Daddy
Guest
Government blessing. This is the same government that let the Ruby Princess dock. I hope the government step in to stop all this rubbish.
JGK
Roar Guru
Looks like Nine and Fox are spitting the dummy over not being involved in this process. The off field games might be more interesting than whatever happens on field.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
While this might work for the Sydney based teams, as well as Newcastle and Canberra, it is pretty unfair on the other teams to be away from their families for such a long time. Obviously in the case of the Warriors this can't be avoided but it could for NQ, Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast. What if everyone starts in Sydney, then have 2 bubbles of 6 teams in Townsville, before that's finished move a bubble of 6 teams to Melbourne, then take the Townsville teams Sydney for the remainder, the ones that were left in Sydney to SE QLD for the remainder and the ones in Melbourne get split between SE QLD and Sydney. Apart from Warriors all teams get to spend a period of time at home.
Beni Iniesta
Guest
What have other countries got to do with Australia? Precisely nothing. Hundreds of people a day have been dying in Syria for 10 years. What's your point?
Big Daddy
Guest
You only have to look at the CEO s . Quayle, Gallop, Smith and Greenberg. Bar Smith the rest are NSW based and while they never were bad they soon turfed them. Maybe V'Landys will have a clean out he's like a bull in a China shop.
Johnnie Chen
Guest
By your logic no sport should have ever been played in history. Many more than hundreds of people died every day pre this virus.
Mama
Guest
Perhaps Fox and Nine will do a deal to drive more subscribers but playing games while the TV news has hundreds dying a day in other countries is not a good look.
RoryStorm
Guest
I like Peter V'landy. IMO he's the best thing that's happened to the NRL in years. Todd Greenburg has been given a good lesson in how to take charge of a business, if he manages to hold onto his job. Most importantly V'landy seems to know the right people in the right place. I don't know that Greenburg has actually done anything since the coronavirus arrived in the country. Perhaps V'landy could recommend one of his mates with business acumen to take over from Greenburg.
bop
Roar Rookie
teams had a whole pre season to be ready for this year and I saw maybe 5 or 6 good games the rest was as they say early season stuff it will get better, so what will we see with the teams getting together for a 3 ,4 week preseason?