NRL TO STRIP POINTS?
The NRL is seriously considering stripping competition points from the opening two rounds as it explores the possibility of a two-conference system to restart the season.
In news that is sure to infuriate undefeated teams Parramatta, Newcastle, Penrith, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra, the NRL is looking at splitting the clubs into two eight-team conferences and starting again.
The NRL’s innovation committee, headed up by Wayne Pearce, will discuss the concept further on Thursday.
“There are a couple of arguments we need to consider,” Pearce told The Daily Telegraph.
“Players worked their butts off in the off season and won games in the first two rounds.
“But if it’s a different competition format and we start all over again … do they keep them?
“It’s a key point we’ll be discussing on Thursday then passing onto the commission to make the final decision.”
The Sydney clubs — apart from St George Illawarra — could be based out of Sydney Olympic Park and create one conference, while the Dragons and the other seven NRL teams would make up the other to be based in Queensland.
GALLEN FEARS PLAYERS WON’T COPE
Retired league legend Paul Gallen fears NRL players will struggle to be isolated for weeks or months on end away from family.
The NRL is considering housing all players in a “bubble” where the only people they’ll be in contact with are teammates and club staff.
With an end to the coronavirus pandemic uncertain, the isolation could well run until the end of the year.
“The longest Kangaroos tour I went on was eight weeks, back in 2013 for the Rugby League World Cup. By the fifth week, some blokes had had enough. And that was when we were touring some of the great cities of the world, like London and Manchester,” Gallen wrote for Wide World of Sports.
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“So consider the sacrifice that players could be asked to make now, to get the NRL back on the field. No home, no family, for who knows how long.
If we lock players away in isolated communities for three or four months, maybe more, do you expect them just to be normal human beings coming out the other side? It’s a big question mark.
“I tell you what, you’d quickly find out which teammates don’t really like each other.”
NRL PLANS FOR 15-TEAM COMP
Whenever the NRL resumes, the Warriors face the possibility of remaining in exile.
The NRL’s desire to restart the competition in late May or early June, could force the Warriors to remain out of the picture, owing to New Zealand’s border restrictions.
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0:46The Daily Telegraph reports that the Warriors withdrawal would have a knock-on effect for all of the clubs, with only likely to face a bye.
However, CEO Cameron George countered that, by saying: “I’m optimistic things are starting to take shape over here and go in the right direction
“I’m hearing a lot of different things that the Government may start relaxing (the lockdown) in the next couple of weeks.”
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1:36NRL FACE APRIL 21 DEADLINE TO SAVE SEASON
The NRL has set a deadline of 15 days come up with a blueprint for what is being described as “the safest place on earth”, to save the season by a commission meeting on April 21.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the NRL’s innovation committee headed by Wayne Pearce will meet with its new infectious disease expert on Monday to continue plans around building up to four “bubble” communities with Round 3 targeted to commence on May 28.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys have just over a two weeks before they put their proposal to the commission on a potential start date and revised structure to the competition.
‘‘We’ve got some of the game’s best minds around the table under the stewardship of commissioner Wayne Pearce,’’ Greenberg said.
‘‘They have all been tasked with coming up with different solutions and opportunities for the game to consider.
“We will also need to consult independent medical and biosecurity experts. That work has already started and we’ll be progressing again this week, ultimately to provide a report for Peter and I to take to the commission in the middle of April.’’
Replies
Forgot to mention the Roosters coach is on the Project Apollo that brought this idea up.
Funny that isn't it when they're 0 from 2. I wonder if they also discussed erasing all suspensions and fines handed out during Rounds 1 and 2 also...?
Shit idea
Hate it
As the Knights coach said, would it mean that all debut players from rounds 1-2 have their games removed? and injuries etc and points scored did not occur? Like hell they didn't occur. Its another p..ss poor NRL thought bubble.....
Yeah they've leaked it to gauge public opinion
What about a brownie's suspension.
Gone too
If they strip our points us fans should boycott the games.........oh wait.
Exactly right, why did they risk players and fans getting the virus if it is going to count for nothing.
It's totally un-acceptable, funny how coaches that lost both or 1 of the games are for it.
Interesting this is out now; gather to gauge the thoughts of coaches / players and of course fans. It would be a joke if they did this but nothing in our game surprises me anymore. Simple equation would be for teams to play each other once; find room for origin and then a normal finals. That would make sense, not this ridiculous conference concept that is based on nothing more than geography....or something similar.
Would Mahoney be back for May 28?
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