Opinion
Facing a crisis can unfortunately bring out the worst in people.
In the case of Covid, it has most certainly done just that.
People disobeying the rules that have been put in place. Hoarding toilet paper for god knows what reason. And whinging about how others should stop whinging as they have it far worse.
Everyone at the moment, at some level, is suffering.
People have lost jobs or have had their businesses closed with the lock downs. Some have had their hours reduced or have taken pay cuts.
Others are fortunate enough to be able to work from home, but are trying to juggle having the whole family around the kitchen table, trying to complete school work and office work.
Others have had to relocate to keep working. Many haven’t been able to be with loved ones during devastating times. And we also have our essential workers, who are working around the clock to try and keep the community cared for and safe.
The NRL has once again been thrown into that mix, with all of the NSW teams having to move up to Queensland for at least a month.
This is required to keep the competition going, and to keep everyone involved safe.
For the past two seasons we have seen the Warriors sacrifice so much to relocate from New Zealand to the Central Coast of NSW so the game could continue. The Storm have spent a fair chunk of time living in Queensland for the same reason.
A majority of the competition will now have a taste of how hard it has been for those two teams.
But of course, there are those out there that think this is just a given, and the NRL should do whatever it takes to give us our pleasure of watching footy. And they are not allowed to complain about either.
“But they are on tonnes of money! Of course they should just do whatever it takes so the game keeps going!”
Nope. Not every player is on Jason Taumalolo or Anthony Milford money. And even if they are it doesn’t matter.
“But the families can just relocate with the teams! They have it so easy!”
Again, no. This is not confirmed yet, and if they do get the green light not all families will be able to do that.
They have work, family, and other commitments that will keep them at home.
Seeing Shaun Johnson’s reaction to the news last night after the Sharks vs Warriors game said it all. He was told live on air about the move, and you could tell he was absolutely shattered.
“It’s disappointing,” he said.
“Yeah I’ve got my views on how Sydney in particular has handled this whole situation. Look, as long as we get to keep playing I guess and this is our job.
“Whatever it takes to deliver what we get paid to do. I’m sure all the players will get on board.
“It’s not ideal, a lot of people will watch this interview right now and say: ‘you get paid a heap of money do what you’re told’.
“But we’ve got lives outside of football, I’ve got a young family and we’ve got no support over here anyway. It’ll be a difficult conversation to go home to my wife.”
He is absolutely right.
Shaun Johnson of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Like many of us, players have taken paycuts, have lived in their ‘bubble’ and missed out on many events and milestones. Their families have been affected, and this looks set to continue.
And we are not just talking about the players. It’s the coaches, referees and team staff as well.
They have partners who are essential workers who need them home while they do the night shift. They have parents who they live with and assist with tasks around the home. They have family members who are sick and they help them get to appointments. They have children who they want to see. Newborns that they want to hold.
Sometimes we forget that those involved with the NRL have worlds going on outside of it.
Am I comparing an NRL player to a nurse? Not at all. Am I saying that playing footy is as important as getting people vaccinated? Once again, no.
What I am saying is that they are human like the rest of us. They have families and loved ones who are being affected by them having to relocate. They themselves, while grateful to still be able to play the game they love and earn a wage, are still making sacrifices to help the NRL to continue.
And by the NRL being able to continue, this is allowing hundreds of people behind the scenes to stay employed as well.
From all the moans and groans I heard during the spilt rounds about the lack of games to watch, I thought everyone would be happy and thankful that the footy will continue. But again, in times like this you see the worst in people, and it is so much easier to complain then it is to compliment.
Everyone is struggling. It may be at a different level to others, but they are still struggling. This is not a time to compare who has the worst struggle, or who should just ‘suck it up’ because they don’t have it as bad as others. You don’t know what anyone’s life is truly like behind closed doors.
Kindness costs nothing and means everything.
Just be kind.
And enjoy the footy.
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