With COVID cases in the eastern states now hovering at around 100,000 per day, and just under two months until the 2022 competition gets underway, it’s time for Peter V’landys and his team to urgently consider their options in dealing with the threat that the virus poses to the NRL.
The NRL’s COVID plans in both 2020 and 2021 saw the competition proceed against the odds, and the NRL’s success in doing so set the benchmark for other sports.
They deferred the competition in 2020 until they could come up with an effective plan to complete the season, and 2021 saw them not only use the bubble to great effect, but also relocate both individual teams and then the entire competition to Queensland when that was the best option.
They were thinking on their feet, and taking action.
Peter V’landys (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Remarkably, and despite the best efforts of some serial nitwits including Paul Vaughan, Josh Dugan and Dylan Napa to derail the competition, not one player contracted COVID, the NRL was able to comply with government protocols, and every single NRL game and representative fixture went ahead.
It was a fabulous outcome, not only for us devoted footy fans, but also for the players and all those dependent upon the game in one way or another.
Now, in the light of the freshly minted ‘living with COVID’ government mantra, the bubble has been downgraded, if not entirely burst, and NRL players and society in general have much more freedom to live a more normal life than they did just a few months ago.
Now, under the NRL’s significantly watered down restrictions, fully vaccinated players will be banned from entering any kind of indoor venue (pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, etc.), but will be free to visit cafes, restaurants and pubs provided they are seated outside and use table service. What could possibly go wrong here?
Stricter protocols are in place for unvaccinated players, including no visitors, no trips to other homes and no indoor training with another. They will also be required to train, eat and bathe away from teammates.
All players are also required to provide a daily negative rapid antigen test result.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But what’s normal under the threat of COVID? How far can increasing case numbers be ignored, and how many infected players, referees, trainers or officials will it take to cause games to be forfeited, or the competition to grind to a halt altogether? At what point will governments start imposing more onerous travel restrictions?
Recent weeks have seen the genie well and truly out of the bottle with a number of sports affected, most notably cricket, which is front of mind at the moment.
Australian captain Pat Cummins missed the second Test match, English coach Chris Silverwood missed the Sydney Test, and the BBL has also been impacted.
NRL clubs are now also feeling the heat, with a number of clubs reporting positive cases among their squads.
Most notably, almost half of the Broncos’ squad tested positive this week, one third of both the Titans’ and Cowboys’ squads tested positive, and a significant number of Panthers players are also now self-isolating.
Clearly, if the number of infections within the NRL remain at these levels for the next couple of months, it’s highly unlikely that the competition will proceed.
Now is the time for action, and perhaps the only realistic solution is to return all NRL players and those closely involved in the game to the bubble so that the competition can proceed.
While this will be unpopular on some fronts, most notably with the entitled rugby league intelligentsia of Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Josh Addo-Carr, it’s better than the alternative, as no games means no broadcast revenue and no money for the players.
It’s time to reach for the bubble wrap, Mr V’landys.
Tigers171920
Guest
You can't seriously be suggesting that NRL players spend possibly 8 months in a bubble? And the Warriors 8 months in Australia?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
more like "Tainted Love"
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
what if it's caught from some little chicky babe that he snuck into his hotel. Oh wait - they'll have that proof on a video
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
what are you talkin bout Pete - the USA is the country that ALL other nations should aspire to be like - just ask them
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
good luck with that. The players and their families have all shown that they are above the laws and that bubbles are only for the rest of us
Scott Pryde
Expert
Really tricky one isn't it - hard to ask players who have been vaccinated to bubble for a third year, but it's also tough to put the season on the line by not doing it... Whatever the case the game can't become like the EPL which seems to have more games postponed than going ahead at times.
Big Fish
Guest
Probably best to organise a tournament get every player and offical that can afford to be sick sick in pre-season, then don’t worry about the bubble for the year. Better now than mid season
matth
Roar Guru
I believe that "Licking Bus Seats" was the number one hit from punk band Erotic Almond. The plot thickens!
Son of Coco
Guest
Fair reasoning, but disagree nonetheless. Other sports are proving you can play without the need to go into bubbles. NRL teams have squads of 30...plenty of players to field a 13 + 4 + 1. I would suggest instead of the need for bubbles is for the NRL to allow clubs the freedom to bring in snap "pay to play" players (from the reserve grades, country grades, wherever) where they are given a flat fee per match outside of the salary cap the NRL deems that a team would otherwise not be able to field a 13. They wouldn't be contracted to any team, a pool of standby players sitting within the NRL, that can be called in on 5-6 hours notice to kit up and play for say the Dragons one week, pick up $10k for the match, and then potentially be called up by the Roosters the following week, again pick up $10k etc. Oh, and most importantly - get the anti-vaxxers out of the comp now. No need to waste any further time or resource catering to them.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Ferret, the researcher in Cyprus is totally biased hence maybe only the Greeks will get Delta :happy:
Ferret
Roar Rookie
This report is from one lab and awaits verification. Other labs have doubts as reported: Deltacron: New COVID variant or lab mistake? A researcher in Cyprus claims to have found a new coronavirus variant that combines characteristics of delta and omicron. Other researchers have their doubts. But the Cypriot scientist has doubled down on his discovery. https://www.dw.com/en/deltacron-new-covid-variant-or-lab-mistake/a-60381928
Ferret
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the correction.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Amount of truth in that Tony, expanding rosters to 40 could be a solution but but the salary cap probably would only cover the top 30 . The extra 10 could put pressure on the lower tiers . It's not just the NRL but the whole game of rugby in league is going to come under a lot more pressure . I'm not sure if these lower tiers will actually be sacrificed to keep the the top tier going . The harder the rules are the less disciplined guys will certainly be looking at ways to break bubbles . Will the NRL penalise the transgressors the same way racing NSW has done as the same guy is running it . Then there is the fans , will they obey government rules in relation to restrictions . Some big decisions to to be made and they need to be made fairly quickly .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes from my limited understanding that is much closer to the situation. But given the spread of the epidemic over multiple continents, then that still is a pandemic by definition.
Pete
Guest
The US should NOT be used for comparison; they're clueless! Its like looking at oranges and wondering why apples are bruised.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
The word they are looking for is “epidemic”. :happy:
Tony
Roar Guru
Maybe more
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think they are going to have to expand the registered playing roster at the very least. What is it now? 30? Will need at least 6 players on standby a day or two before each game.
Tony
Roar Guru
I might just have some of their records :happy:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Erotic Almond? Sounds like a band from the punk era.