NRL season up in the air due to Coronavirus

Australia's Chief Medical Officer has called on the Federal Government to ban gatherings of more than 500 people putting the immediate future of the NRL into danger.

It's assumed the NRL will either suspend the competition or move to playing games behind closed doors.

The Australian F1 Grand Prix was cancelled earlier today over fears of Coronavirus while multiple music festivals have also been cancelled.

In Europe League 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga have all been suspended while the EPL will make an announcement on the future of its season tomorrow after multiple players were quarantined and Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will provide an update today at 2.15pm Sydney time.

This blog will become the megathread for all Coronavirus updates and will be updated as more information comes to hand.

Update:

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that all non-essential gatherings of 500 people or more will be banned from Monday 16 March.
The NRL will be holding a conference call with all clubs at 4pm Sydney time today and an update will be provided for this weekend's rounds and the state of the competition moving forward.
All NRL games will remain open to fans for round one.
Games will go behind closed doors from round two onwards.
The NRL is yet to decide if the season will be postponed.
NRL Round 2 will go ahead. No crowds.
The Warriors will be based in Kingscliff this week.
Players and families may be isolated to allow games to continue behind closed doors.
The Warriors are now saying they will head home due to strict quarantine measures enforced by the NZ Government.
All lower grade and grassroots football has been suspended including Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg.

"HOE - interesting that after blowing the pea out of the whistle for 48 mins (one set restart every 5 mins), there was only one blown in the last 32 minutes of the game. You can't tell me that players all of a sudden became ultra-disciplined. "

"We keep talking about the great Raiders come back after being down early 14-0. You know what helped? Raiders got 5-straight six-agains after the 8th min. Every restart till fulltime, bar one. Restarts are worse than penalties because of the fatigue…"

"Look TDS ain't going anywhere anytime soon, but i think it is more paletable if Joash is that 14 where he can fill in at Hooker for short mins and also play other positions if needed, as opposed to a straight up Hooker. TDS can still be in the 19."

Replies

Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 March 13, 2020 at 2:23pm

The season will be over in a week or two due to player welfare due to the spread of the virus and the amount of contact in sports like league and the afl.

They may play in front of empty stadiums for a week or two but that's about it.

Its over. Say goodbye to 2020. Sayonara
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 March 15, 2020 at 7:39pm
  
  unfortunately i share the same thoughts chief, the seasons all over.
Trent March 13, 2020 at 2:27pm

lock up the nation
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Trent March 15, 2020 at 7:39pm
  
  lock up the daughters and mothers!
This reply was deleted.
- Wile E. Coyote March 13, 2020 at 3:32pm
  
  It also cant survive high levels of alcohol - just saying
- RIDER March 13, 2020 at 4:24pm
  
  Not according to this bloke.
  
  https://youtu.be/E3URhJx0NSw
- My Bob March 13, 2020 at 7:32pm
  
  Sorry Tad, that is not true. Look up Micheal Osterholm, a world recognised epidemiologist. he points out how similar virus thrive in Camels, in the Middle East where the temperature is way over 40.
  - Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > My Bob March 15, 2020 at 7:42pm
    
    Those poor middle eastern camels, they have to go through so much in their lifetimes, may god bless them MB.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown March 13, 2020 at 3:10pm

NRL will be cancelled.
- Wile E. Coyote > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown March 13, 2020 at 3:30pm
  
  Cant happen. What are we going to do? Watch the soccer?- I tried that and it is bloody boring to watch. NRL is the only thing that keeps the players from getting into trouble. Cancel the games and they are sure to go out and get infected. For public morale, player safety and media dollars and to stop a revolution (no distraction for the public) the game must go on.