ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys is confident the major hurdles to the NRL’s competition restart will be cleared within the next week including a broadcast deal, draw and final rule changes.
Finishing touches are being placed on negotiations with Channel Nine and Foxtel. That deal is expected to involve a four-year extension of the existing arrangement to lock in the broadcast partners until the end of 2026.
Finalisation of the broadcast deal will also allow the new draw to be announced with the competition to restart on May 28.
On Sunday night V’landys told AAP the ARLC will this week approve a proposal from Project Apollo to reduce the number of referees per game from two to one to save costs.
He is also confident the Queensland government will accept the NRL’s biosecurity guidelines which allows players to sign a waiver to refuse the flu shot.
This would clear Gold Coast Titans duo Bryce Cartwright and Brian Kelly to return to training next week after they were stood down by the Queensland government under a no jab, no play policy.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
“I guess where this has gone off the rails a little bit is everyone is looking at at one or two per cent of players and 98 per cent of the players went and got vaccinated conscientiously,” V’landys said.
“If you look at the general community there’s probably one or two per cent of people who wouldn’t be vaccinated.
“Rugby league is part of the community and it’s no different, there’s always going to be some people that are going to have a different ideology.”
V’landys said players who refused the vaccination only pose a health risk to themselves and not to the community given contracting the flu and coronavirus at the same time is potentially deadly.
As of Sunday afternoon the Titans were still waiting to hear from Cartwright and Kelly over whether they would agree to be vaccinated.
Neither will be allowed back into the bubble until they have had the injection, and both have been given information resources to consider.
Until the Queensland government is satisfied with the NRL’s waiver, questions will continue to be raised over whether players who have not been vaccinated will be allowed to play in the state.
This could potentially impact the NRL draw, which is yet to be finalised.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
A final copy of the biosecurity guidelines was sent to all NRL clubs, the RLPA and governments last Sunday for approval, which included a waiver for the flu vaccination for players who objected to the shot for a variety of reasons.
However, it is unknown whether the Queensland government received the final copy or simply overlooked the updated version.
It is believed up to 20 NRL players have so far refused to be vaccinated – objecting on the grounds of past adverse reactions, anti-vax beliefs or religious reasons.
Canberra players Josh Papalii, Joseph Tapine and Sia Soliola as well as Manly’s Dylan Walker have also objected to the jab.
However, the NRL is not expecting any objection to the flu vaccination waiver from other state governments.
Big Daddy
Guest
"Alarmist Rhetoric" is the catch phrase for people that don't buy into V'Landys big plan. There have been people in this game a lot longer than him and their opinions should hold some stead. To brush them aside shows his ignorance.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
So has Dylan Walker become pure after his near fatal mishap a couple of years ago?
Nat
Roar Guru
The players have been stood down. They are not allowed to train or come anywhere near the group. The Qld Govt has enforced that because it is a different proposal from the one orignally tabled. The Govt and NRL are working together to come to an agreement and that may just be those players are sat out for the season. One of the great successes of this road back for the NRL was to keep the RLPA in the loop and support the players as much as possible and so far that has been an exceptional piece of teamwork to get where they are now which, by comparison is so far ahead of the other codes NRL fans should consider themselves lucky that we will have a player-safe game back on out TVs in a couple of short weeks. p.s. a draft is a working document that both parties contribute too. If the NRL just tabled a proposal without consultation, highly likely they just get rejected and it's back to sq1.
Larry1950
Guest
Alarmist rhetoric? Guess he's also on the "just a bad flu" boat with Trump & that Brazilian President. I like watching my NRL but if guys like V'landys think they can bulldoze through a state government health protocol, I reckon it's time to call his bluff & shut them down. The rest of us have played our part in getting the covid-19 numbers down so stuff the NRL dissidents, let them watch from home while the well paid players with some sense of community responsibility get on board. Maybe those islander & indigenous guys who are objecting to the flu jab should read the articles on the over-representation of the black & other minority populations in covid-19 deaths in the US and the UK, it's highlighted on the ABC news website today. I'm not trying to be racist, the research is now showing those trends & those Canberra guys wouldn't want their kids left without a father as they're family orientated.
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree with your comments in principle, Val and I'm guessing V'landys probably does as well. I suspect though. the NRL lawyers don't because they'd have to defend the inevitable lawsuits. Rather than force the issue, which would inevitably lead to lots of acrimony and distract from the season, the NRL's trying to work out a compromise. Hopefully they get something acceptable worked out so this issue can disappear and we can all focus on the first game, later this month
Val Saunders
Guest
All the comments from players and V'landys talk about freedom of choice, no extra community risks with no flu jab etc etc - they are all missing the point. The NRL wants concessions from the Qld Government so that they can operate with different rules to the rest of the community and these are big concessions - no social distancing and no quarantine when coming into Queensland, not just returning Qld teams but teams from NSW, the ACT and Victoria! Why should the NRL receive these concessions? Well they have a protocol which absolutely minimises the risk of players and support teams bringing into Qld Covid-19. The Qld Government approved that protocol but the NRL now cannot keep to that protocol. They claim it was a draft but why submit a draft to the Government when you know its going to change and why think the Gov would approve a draft on such an important issue that has crushed the lives of so many Australians. The players have the right to decline the flu jab. To get the NRL back running all the NRL has to do is stand down those players that decline and let the rest of the squad get on with training and playing. Simple! The coaches may scream but they should make do with the players they have and if the squad is short you cannot tell me that Qld Comp players wouldn't jump at the chance to play. So NRL and players make your individual choices and let the comp start with only players who comply with the original and approved protocols!! PS Follow the example being set by the Warriors who understand the sacrifices needed and what team means!
Nat
Roar Guru
Absolute blessing in disguise that Beattie stood aside when he did. I would be 100% comfortable in assuming that NRL wouldn't even look like coming back under his tenure. I hope he does stay, even if just a buffer for Abdo until 2021 and some type of normalicy comes back to the game. His decisive statements then actions are what some dislike him for yet the same crew gave it to Greenberg for his elongated and overly consultative approach. It's funny to note though, if this title had have been another 'on/off, player revolt' article it would have 50 posts by now.
Paul
Roar Guru
He's set a high bar for the next CEO, Nat. Rather than wait till Monday some time, he jumped on this last night and has put this piece of click bait to sleep, IMO. That's not to say the issue is settled, but he's made it clear where the process is at, what steps have been taken to resolve it and what needs to happen to put this problem to bed. I can't imagine getting a similar prompt & accurate response from his predecessor.
Paul
Roar Guru
One area where V'landys has impressed me has been his handling of the media. In this instance, he's hosed down speculation quickly and effectively. A week ago he handled comments from the 9 CEO equally well. It's pretty hard to keep the rumour & innuendo going when someone who knows what they're talking about, makes provides prompt and well reasoned responses.
Nat
Roar Guru
I bet V'landys does walk away once it's set up and running. He's experiencing first hand that the media only care about the headline and clicks. They are trying to milk every drop from the 'on again/off again' nature of reporting even the smallest of incidents. How many stories in the last few weeks have started with 'the 28th May is in doubt...' There is a significant difference between a new story and a real issue but when it's spun the right way...