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Trent Robinson has encouraged the NRL to make the best decision possible to ensure the game can continue, even if that means relocation.
The ARL Commission will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to determine whether the competition will be moved out of Sydney amid a concerning COVID-19 outbreak.
On Saturday night the NRL was forced to move Wednesday’s State of Origin III from Newcastle to Gold Coast because the state government did not want crowds at a major event while dealing with rapidly growing case numbers.
It immediately raised questions about whether the NRL was set for a shift to either rural NSW or Queensland to ensure the safety of the players and the continuation of the game.
It’s all on the table as the ARLC hash out with biosecurity experts the level of risk for players and staff, as well as the financial implications of all contingencies.
Players are already under strict level four restrictions with several breaches adding to the difficulty of negotiating with state governments for travel permits across borders.
But Robinson is all in on whatever the NRL ask them to do.
“We have to be adaptable,” the Sydney Roosters coach said.
“I know they’re working really hard there.
“It’s really tough with them in the NRL with everything that’s coming up and as we’ve seen, we haven’t made it easier as far as players (breaching the protocols)…they’ve had a lot to deal with with the incidents while they’re trying to adapt to every single day, like NSW and Australia has and the world has, they’re trying to adapt to what’s next.
“It’s really tough on the NRL at the moment.
“Anything we need to do to keep this competition going.”
Last year the entire competition was put on hold for two months while the NRL formed agreements with state governments and created biosecurity guidelines to re-start the game.
“We know how important it is, most people lost income, the players had to reduce income, they’ve reduced salary caps and office staff went onto Job Keeper. We need to keep this game going,” Robinson continued.
“I don’t want to move out of my home with my partner and kids and not see them but if it means that our whole industry, not just the players and coaches, if everybody can work and sustain the income that comes into the game so all of us can work, then we’ll do what we have to.
“Andrew (Abdo) and Peter (V’landys) and the team, they’ll tell us what to do and we’ll do it.
“They have shown they’re in the best interest of the players and the game. They’ve really done that this year especially with the COVID, they’ve tried to help with the restrictions.
“But tell us what to do and we’ll do it, because it’ll be well thought out.”
© AAP
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