Warriors forced to stay in Australia as NRL season forges on
The NRL will forge ahead with the season despite the coronavirus pandemic but concede the possibility of suspending the competition is still on the table.
The league confirmed on Sunday that round two would proceed next week as scheduled, but still behind closed doors.
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The Warriors will stay in Kingscliff given New Zealand's two-week isolation period imposed on international travellers.
It's likely they will face Canberra on the Gold Coast next week, rather than host them in New Zealand.
The NRL has also implemented biosecurity and pandemic experts to advise them and said they would play on until they were told to do otherwise.
"In the interim we will continue round two. At this stage we will play round two and assess the situation," ARL commission chairman Peter V'landys said.
"Any decision we make today could change tomorrow.
"We are going to review all options, including isolating players and suspending the season.
"This situation is fluid and is changing by the hour. We will continue to take experts' advice ... And we will continue to act on that advice."
NRL facing ‘catastrophic effects’ if season shut down
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg conceded that if any player tested positive, it would have massive implications on the game.
V'landys urged the federal government to offer its financial support, with clubs expected to start losing money from next weekend with no crowds.
The league would also take a drastic financial hit if matches were forced to be cancelled, with the NRL's main income its $2 billion broadcast deal.
"I can't stress enough our game has never faced a challenge like this," V'landys said.
"The longer it takes, the more pressure on our financial viability. It could have catastrophic effects on us going forward.
"Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble.
"An Australia without rugby league is not Australia.
"The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.
"Rugby league has been a fabric of our society for hundreds of years. It is people's escape, it is people's relaxation.
"And we have to do everything we can to continue the tradition of rugby league."
Meanwhile, Warriors players Peta Hiku and Patrick Herbert have returned home to New Zealand for family reasons.
