Peter V’landys and Wayne Pearce have come out recently and said that it’s the intention of the NRL to restart its competition on May 28th.
They appear to have done this without consulting the NSW health minister, which shows a lack of respect for the chain of command.
I would have thought that the NRL has a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that its players’ health and safety aren’t put at risk and in jeopardy.
The NRL expecting its players to play again in the midst of a serious pandemic that’s sweeping the world at the moment is both bewildering and beyond belief.
The NRL’s agenda to recommence its competition so hastily is clearly driven by their need to get the money flowing again due to its lack of cash reserves.
How has a sport that rakes in billions of dollars in broadcast revenue ended up in this predicament? That’s the question that needs to be answered.
Where is the transparency and accountability for all of the money that has been squandered?
With rival Australian codes still being in lockdown, a more cautious and responsible approach would be to wait until July 1st at the very least before even considering to recommence.
For V’landys to keep talking up how the infection rate is down to 1.5per cent is fine, but he’s overlooking one very important point and that is that Australians have been told to stay at home and self-isolate.
Rugby league is a contact sport so the rules on social distancing will go out the window if the NRL is given the green light to start again.
Even if all of the players are tested before a match, some of the players could be carriers of coronavirus and it won’t show up immediately in a test.
If as the NRL states its primary concern is for the ‘health and safety’ of its players and that they’re putting the health of their players and the wider community first, then why are they so desperate to get back on the field so soon?
(Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Will the players possibly be asked to sign a disclaimer form due to these unprecedented circumstances and if not will the NRL take full responsibility if a player contracts the virus and heaven forbid, dies from it?
Sure, the players are all fit and healthy young men and probably believe that they’re immune to it, but this virus doesn’t discriminate and is the real deal as we can clearly see from the devastation that it’s bringing around the world.
By the way, I live for sport, in particular rugby league, but as much as I’d love to see it on the television again my main concern is for the health and safety of the players.
Paul
Roar Guru
Where did I suggest the Police Commissioner did that? What I said was simple. The PC provided a response to the NRL, in effect saying go ahead with your planning. He made it very clear too, that there were significant health & safety issues that needed to be met with appropriate responses. Just who would decide whether the NRL had done enough, IMO wasn't spelled out in the letter, but it's safe to assume that would fall to either the relevant Minister or Premier to make the call. As for your last comment, this is a quote from the Cheif Health Officer which IMO completely refutes your statement; "The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said those who had died had all contracted the virus on board, and that authorities believed it might have spread through the ship from infected crew members preparing food. Sources familiar with ship said crew rarely disembarked and that the infection would have likely been brought on board by a passenger. Chant said that if NSW Health had known that coronavirus was on board the ship, they would have disembarked the passengers differently and moved them directly to self-isolation. “Cases that we could have averted by decanting people in a more ordered way with face masks and taking them directly to their homes, would have been in the order of 11,” Chant said.
Maarten69
Roar Rookie
If you believe that the Police Commissioner has the right to over rule the Health Dept in a Pandemic without the NSW Govt Authority you apparently are not familiar with the Westminster System of Government. And it now appears that the NSW Health Dept are responsible for the deaths of at least 19 passengers of the Ruby Princess.
Maarten69
Roar Rookie
Darius is well within his right to refuse to play, his service to the great game goes without question.
Maarten69
Roar Rookie
If there was nothing to worry about why the Lockdown?
Nat
Roar Guru
Agreed, and I expect there may be more if the comp does get up under the current, proposed restrictions. I'll put Cam Smith up right now. It's a big ask to get all 400 players isolated above current societal restrictions. For out of state teams, it's total confinement of hotel, train and play after the 14 days quarantine. I'm not sure I would.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's astounding Albo . I didn't know viral epidemiology was as common a qualification as sparky. We seem have done pretty well so far according to just about every expert , so the powers that be have my confidence and whatever they deem appropriate I will go along with.
Big Daddy
Guest
Congratulations to Darius Boyd for making a decision to put his family and mental health first. There are probably other players that may speak out.
Albo
Roar Rookie
It is amazing just how many Roar contributors are so expert on this Covid19 virus ? Who said our education system was going backwards ? We obviously have the wrong people in the Health Authorities positions here.
max power
Guest
"How has a sport that rakes in billions of dollars in broadcast revenue ended up in this predicament? That’s the question that needs to be answered." well thats easy, they gave all the money to clubs to spend on players salaries and developing the game and a media arm why wait till July, when May is possible? if things dont look good in May, the start can be delayed until July "Where is the transparency and accountability for all of the money that has been squandered?" what money has been squandered? 13 mil to 16 clubs a year for the 5 year TC contract is over a billion dollars. The NRL have opened their books to stake holders you work for Channel 9?
Tom G
Roar Rookie
the latter.
Paul
Roar Guru
"They appear to have done this without consulting the NSW health minister, which shows a lack of respect for the chain of command." Really? So you've decided a guy with V'landy's experience dealing with government for more than 30 years, has completely ignored the right people in this instance? I'm also assuming the NRL lawyers would have been involved and they too got this wrong? If that was the case, why didn't the letter from the NSW Police Commissioner state that? Surely Mick Fuller should have written back telling him who to contact, rather than giving tacit agreement he could start planning a restart? If the Police Commissioner was not the right person to respond and he did, why hasn't he been rebuked or demoted by the NSW Premier? Either she's okay with what he said or she too, doesn't know the chain of command? If the NSW Premier thought this was an issue, why hasn't she come out and killed the idea? It would only take one sentence "the NRL is getting ahead of itself and will not be allowed to start again on the 28th of May". Strangely that hasn't happened either. I assume you've sent protests to all relevant parties including those in the "chain of command", voicing your concerns, on behalf those who support your views? I also assume as an honorable person, you will not be watching the NRL, assuming the season re-commences on the 28th of May?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
''Even if all of the players are tested ,some players could be carriers of coronavirus and it won't show up immediately in a test.'' Is this an experts projection of the situation in late May after the players have been isolated for months or is it a wild guess?