PM Scott Morrison says he likes the NRL’s ambition but warned the game not to get ahead of itself in its plan to return from the coronavirus shutdown.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the NRL won’t be given any “special arrangements” to aid their ambitious plan to recommence the season in May.
Morrison welcomed the NRL’s efforts to restart the suspended season after the shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, but warned against doing so hastily.
“I like the ambition. I like they are trying to get the show back on the road in some way,” Morrison said on The Nine Network on Tuesday.
“It will be subject to health advice and there will be no special arrangements.”
Morrison’s comments cast serious doubt over the likelihood of the Warriors being granted an exemption to enter Australia.
The New Zealand club will need to fly into the country by next Thursday if NRL clubs are to fit in three weeks of training before a possible May 28 resumption.
Morrison’s comments also precede the NRL’s critical negotiations with broadcasters on Tuesday to discuss a modified competition.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys will meet with Nine while NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg sits down with Fox Sports.
Morrison welcomed the code’s plans to return.
“I like (that) the people are planning to try and get Australia back to normal,” Morrison said on the Seven Network.
“But obviously, all of these things will be subject to the health advice and the health clearances that are necessary.”
The NRL recently made public a letter from NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller which outlined the game’s ability to restart should it clear health hurdles.
Morrison said that health advice has to be paramount.
“I have no doubt that the NRL and the other codes understand that and they will comply with that,” Morrison said.
“But I welcome the fact that people are thinking ahead and working out ways they can get things back on stronger footing.
“That is certainly what we’re doing as a National Cabinet, whether it is the economy or health or any of these issues.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has maintained sporting bodies looking to restart competitions during the pandemic weren’t subjected to the state government.
She said only health authorities would give the green light.
“We in NSW purposely haven’t named or identified all the organisations that can’t continue activity,” Berejiklian said.
“We’ve taken the opposite approach. We’ve made a list of what cannot happen in NSW, but everything else is subject to health rules.
“If you can respect the health rules and make sure players and their families are safe, it’s up to you to demonstrate that and resume activities when you see fit.”
NSW chief medical officer Kerry Chant, who met with the NRL last month, said the 1.5-metre social distancing rule isn’t within the public health orders.
Instead, it was more incumbent on the league to produce a plan with the appropriate controls to address health and safety responsibilities.
“As we know, people can be contagious prior to onset of symptoms – just because someone is well today doesn’t mean they weren’t potentially infectious,” she said.
“So it does require a complex risk management plan.”
Big Daddy
Guest
Now it looks as this is turning into a political gunfight. John Barilaro Deputy Premier has volunteered to assist the NRL and V'Landys to achieve his goal. Last time I was aware Gladys was the premier.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think there needed to be a target date Adam for the Clubs & players, hence the announcement last week. I'd guarantee if they had a press conference to announce the restart, the first question Greeberg would be asked is "when?" and if the response was "we don't know, we haven' worked that out", That would not be a good look. At least this way it gives some direction, even though all know this date could easily change
Nick
Roar Guru
Malaysia is enacting one of the most strict lockdowns imaginable at the moment. They need to though. Absolute fools for running an mass Muslim faith prayer session in March. That impacted Malaysia badly, and had an impact on Singapore and poor little Brunei too. If there was ever a global debrief where certain countries get a good slap on the wrist and have to sit in the sin bin for a while, Malaysia would be right up there with the UK, China and Spain. Each of those countries were in astonishing levels of denial.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
My mate Ralph in Malaysia is a diabetic so he has had full blood tests done and is in isolation as well to be safe. BTW: it attacks the lungs like TB which is why they are trying TB vaccine to slow it down and rides to the kidneys in the Angiotensin enzyme. So anyone taking ACE inhibitors for blood pressure need to be awfully careful especially if like me you are over 70.
Nat
Roar Guru
Agree with this. I've said all along that travel would be the sticking point. I don't know if anyone from the NRL have even requested this of the Qld Govt so where have the NRL been asking for exemptions? If they go, they have to stay until the retrictions are lifted. The State's position is simply, when the players come back they have to isolate for 14 days. I have no issue with this.
Nick
Roar Guru
It just doesn't make sense he would ask the cops first. All they do (not to diminish their work of course) is enforce the law. They don't write them and they don't change them.
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah, that's exactly as I read it. It's a 'if this then that' scenario. What I think (hope) is that's a pass to get the process started. However, it doesn't touch on the 1.5m spacing, does the state-based isolation overrule/circumvent that? There's still quite a bit to go. I do have a concern over the hand-written date even though the letter itself references 8th April.
Nick
Roar Guru
There has been nothing he has said in the past 8 weeks that has led me to think he's a boon for the game to be honest. Money drives him. He doesn't give a flip about the fans.
Nick
Roar Guru
Mate, you ARE saying she's playing politics out of an NRL comp. If it's a 'grandstanding' statement and not 'just about the footy', then you are accusing her of politicizing it.
Nick
Roar Guru
And what has Deb’s campaign been so far? A brief press release bagging out Palaszcuk for her infertility. Jesus wept that's low.
Nick
Roar Guru
You don't need to convince me. I'm lock step behind you on this. I'm presently in lockdown in Singapore and absolutely resolutely behind any measure to increase the strictness of it. And we have half the cases Australia has and not having to worry about a winter either. It's the other footy footy footy people you need to convince.
Nat
Roar Guru
C'mon mate, we've agreed on this. don't misinterpret what I'm saying. I have always I said it's not a political decision but I will stand by my grandstanding statement and it's not just about the footy. Her only position in this is allowing players to fly in/out. Fair enough, I tend to agree, if they go they have to stay. NZ is in the same position. I will acknoweldge that I have little faith and respect for our current state Govt based on a lot of issues. She survives on sound bites and diversions.
Adam
Roar Guru
I agree to an extent. But I have no idea why the NRL even bothered putting a date on things. They should have tried to get a lot more ducks in a row before even contemplating any indication of a date
Big Daddy
Guest
Bang on the money. 100% bang on the money. Some of the fans think the sun shines out of V'Landys but I am an avid rugby league fan but he doesn't speak for me . I as well would love to see rugby league back I won't be worried if it doesn't.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Moose, yesterday afternoon I had a conversation with a mate of mine who is a research scientist at Brisbane Uni and working on this virus. I was talking with somebody who understands this stuff and has actually looked at this thing under a microscope. He described the virus as bloody scary except he put several expletives in front of it that world get my post banned if I use them. As Chris stated, this thing bound it's DNA together in a cold northern Chinese city in the middle of winter it is more virulent in colder conditions and we are yet to hit our winter and if we do not get it under control before then we can prevent death rates like they have been having in the northern hemisphere. NO it is not just a flu virus it makes the flu virus look like a mild head cold in comparison it is that nasty. The reason the government has been so cautious is for this very reason if they get to blaze about what we have achieved and relax the restrictions it could backfire badly with serious consequences.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Nat, the borders are closed as the Qld premier clearly stated that they are not going to make exceptions for the NRL in regard to travel and border restrictions just for the NRL They have been told by the NSW Health Authorities that they may be able to resume in NSW under certain conditions, however the NSW Health dept does not have jurisdiction in regard to our international borders for the Warriors team to re -enter Australia nor restrictions in and out of Qld in regard to Bronco's Cowboys and the Titans. So yes they are expecting special treatment if the restrictions are still in place. It is great that the NRL are planning ahead but they are desperate for revenue because they have just arranged a $250 million loan out of a British bank to keep afloat.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd suggest the NRL is going into the arrangement with eyes wide open Adam. Sure their approach is a risk and the obvious risk is getting shut down as you suggest, but they're taking the approach "nothing ventured, nothing gained", which IMO is the right way to go, at least for now.
Adam
Roar Guru
I reckon it's cutting the idea down quickly. It's a better arrangement than leading them on for a month and a half then cutting the idea down.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Actually I believe the NSW government has talked about it in the coming weeks (but not specified any details on what would be relaxed) and the Vic government extended the State of Emergency to Monday May 11, indicating that relaxations may begin from that date. But doesn't change the point that there's been nothing to indicate what measures will be relaxed.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Absolutely and he has to deal with the fact that anything he allows the NRL to do, other sports will be asking for.