2020 NRL Discussion
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2020 NRL Discussion
NRL issues stringent player guidelines to help prevent spread of coronavirus
NRL players will be told to limit interaction with fans at matches while community visits may also be cancelled as part of measures brought in to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has led the NBA to call off its season.
Starting with Thursday night’s Bankwest Stadium season-opening clash between Parramatta and Canterbury, players will be advised to limit mingling with fans prior to matches or on the field after full-time where they often interact with friends, supporters and family members to sign autographs and have photos taken.
The NBA has announced its season is on hiatus after Utah Jazz All-Star centre Rudy Gobert tested positive to COVID-19.
A set of guidelines was issued to all 16 NRL clubs on Thursday, which also includes restricting access to dressing rooms to players and match-day staff.
In the memo issued by NRL CEO Todd Greenberg to the clubs, he advised clubs to take reasonable steps to limit club-organised player contact with community organisations such as hospitals and schools.
He also advised the clubs to take the advice of their chief medical officers on enhanced medical and hygiene initiatives, such as regularly cleaning surfaces in training areas with antiseptic solutions, thorough handwashing, ensuring food preparation is done to the highest levels and preventing the sharing of water bottles.
Media will not be permitted in the sheds while host broadcasters will have access to certain areas only.
Gobert's test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of Wednesday's game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The game was cancelled. Gobert was not in the arena.
The NBA has suspended all games following the conclusion of Wednesday's schedule of games until further notice. The NBA said during this hiatus it would determine its next steps in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for COVID-19 and will undergo a 14-day quarantine, along with teammates and coaching staff with the Italian Serie A championship-winning side.
Rugani, who was on the bench in last weekend’s match against Inter Milan, is the first Italian player diagnosed with the virus but German club Hannover 96 has also announced a member of its team had COVID-19.
Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have also tested positive to coronavirus while on holiday on the Gold Coast.
The Hollywood star posted on Twitter to announce his diagnosis.
In Melbourne, the Storm's neighbours at AAMI Park - AFL clubs Collingwood and Melbourne - are taking big steps to protect their players from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said it was business as usual for his side for the time being when asked about the virus on Thursday morning.
Collingwood cancelled an open training session with fans on Wednesday, while the Demons have moved their AFL program almost an hour away to Casey Fields as clubs try and stop the disease from reaching their players and coaching staff.
"Some of our staff in the office have been told to work from home if they can as it is the health of our players which is the number one priority," Bellamy said.
"We are certainly taking some precaution ... but it's business as usual in regards to training and everything else."
https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/12/...f-coronavirus/
Guess I'll be a Parra fan tonight.
Maybe cancel school visits to stop the transfer of other viruses too.
Yes mate , if someone is wearing a School Uniform , walk awayQuote:
Originally Posted by JunctionBlock
Go Parra
The Grand Prix is now off. Wondering how long it will be before the NRL is too. Was very much looking forward to Sunday week, and have tickets to 4 games over Easter that I now suspect won't happen...
Hopefully it all turns a corner soon. I need the footy! It all makes us realise how vulnerable our society.Quote:
Originally Posted by Canon
NRL enhance game day protocols
The National Rugby League (NRL) has introduced changes to its match day protocols and procedures based on the advice of health officials regarding COVID-19.
The changes are designed to protect the health and safety of players and fans and will mean a reduced level of interaction both pre-match and post-match. While health authorities have advised there is no current risk to people attending mass gatherings, the NRL has provided clubs with a set of guidelines to help reduce the potential spread of the virus.
Among the changes which will be effective from Round One, beginning tonight (March 12):
Players have been advised to minimise contact with the public and non-essential personnel. This includes limiting physical contact with supporters at venues; Players are advised to avoid handshakes, autographs and selfies to limit the risk of infection;
Clubs restricting dressing room access to include only players and essential staff;
Clubs taking reasonable steps to limit club-organised player contact with community organisations;
Clubs and players taking additional steps to ensure enhanced hygiene at training and playing facilities.
"Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our players and fans," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
"We have listened to the experts and are following their advice. While we need to be calm and sensible, we also need to be practical and proactive. We are doing everything practical to minimise the risks for everyone."
The guidelines have been shaped following recommendations by the Department of Health and regular consultation with medical experts.
Mr Greenberg said the NRL would continue to be guided by the advice of Federal and State health authorities and will accept any recommendations they provide.
"If we need to change some things, we will do that. We have established an internal working group which will continue to liaise daily with health authorities and clubs to ensure we are as informed as possible and prepared to act if required," Mr Greenberg said.
NRL fans could be locked out of stadiums from tonight: report
https://wwos.nine.com.au/
The NRL could lock fans out of stadiums as early as tonight, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.
The report states that the NRL is putting measures in place in case fans need to be turned away from tonight's games as a response to COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state premiers have gathered in Sydney today for a COAG meeting with the NRL sweating on advice in relation to mass gatherings that will come from that meeting.
A decision to take the matches behind closed doors would be a huge blow to tonight's match between the Cowboys and the Broncos, which was to be a huge occasion as the first match played at Townsville's new stadium.
NRL and QLD State government are meeting in Townsville right now. When that meeting finishes there will be an announcement, likelyhood is games tonight to go ahead without crowds. Then shutdown from next week. Fans in Townsville will be furious if locked out.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has flown to Townsville for the game, however it is increasingly possible that it will be played in front of empty stands.
The NRL has set up a coronavirus sub-committee which has been corresponding with clubs about the potential ramifications, including the financial implications of playing without crowds.
The season-opener between the Eels and the Bulldogs was played in front of more than 21,000 fans, with more than 8,000 paying customers failing to turn up after Bankwest Stadium was sold out.
Tonight's first match pits grand finalists the Raiders against the Gold Coast Titans in Canberra's GIO Stadium, kicking off at 6pm.
According to the Herald report the NRL is also making plans around the potential of having to postpone the season if the COVID-19 outbreak worsens, however that could be fast-tracked if one of its players contracts the virus.
This weekends games seem safe, but at best no spectators after that...
This sucks beyond sucks.
I’ve been fighting this but I’m now coming to the realisation/acceptance there is going to be no sports to go to and watch on TV too for quite some time.
Here and overseas.
For entertainment it’s going to be TV shows and Movies.
Jesus Wept.
Both Fox and Channel nines ratings will now go through the roof
On another note, the current membership numbers for Titans (and all other clubs) won’t change due to stadiums closed to the general public. So even if we get on a roll and win a few no-one is going to pay for membership if they can’t go to the game. So our membership figures will still suck. Just another kick in the teeth for our owners.
:nope:Quote:
Clubs have privately discussed selling 499 premium tickets — just under the 500-person mass-gathering restrictions implemented by the federal government from tomorrow.
Manly chairman Scott Penn’s plea for federal government to provide financial assistance for NRL clubs
https://www.couriermail.com.au/
Manly Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn has revealed his fears of “all clubs going under” without federal government assistance as all 16 NRL clubs’ financial health is revealed. READ IT HERE.
Manly chairman and majority shareholder Scott Penn has urged the federal government to bail out financially stricken NRL clubs or face the possibility “all clubs would go under”.
Penn told The Daily Telegraph teams being forced to play in empty stadiums, or having the NRL season cancelled or postponed because of coronavirus, would have dire financial consequences for all clubs.
Penn was adamant the government should help the game for community purposes, declaring: “It’s a passion for so many people. It’s an element of hope every week.”
The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday that clubs may only survive for eight to 12 weeks if games were cancelled and sponsorship, gate takings, membership and the $14 million weekly broadcast grant to clubs stopped.
“If we can’t play in front of crowds, then there are lines of revenue in our PNL (profit and loss) that we just cannot deliver,” Penn said. “Yet if we have the same cost base, because we have player salaries meeting the cap, we’ve got staff with jobs … it’s an imbalance that can’t be rectified.
“So the reality is if that continued all clubs would go under unless they had significant reserves they could tap into or funding. It’s crucial that we find funding. The league is definitely going to need assistance to continue if we are unable to generate crowds.
“The reality is all clubs survive on a combination of the monthly (broadcast) grant, gate receipts, membership, merchandise and sponsorship. There are really only five or six key lines of revenue and the fact is, they are all contingent on us playing games and putting brands out in the market.
“If that is unable to occur then that would have a dramatic impact – unlike anything that has ever been seen before. It’s unprecedented. These are dramatic times.
“That is what everyone is working on right now as we speak. It’s a weekly update. Are we able to play? Are we able to give members and sponsors value for money? We would have to give pro rata refunds to members if they are unable to attend games. That would have a significant impact on every club.”
Manly are one of the less wealthy clubs with limited resources and a modest budget.
Penn believes the game must continue being played to soothe a worried and concerned community.
“Having the benefit of being in a market where all professional sports have been currently suspended, it’s actually not good, I don’t think, for the population to not have sport,” Penn said.
“Certainly in Australia where sport is the absolute fabric of our culture. It’s what we talk about at the pub, many people participate in tipping competitions, fantasy league. To not have it would be a disaster.
“I would implore the government to find some form of an assistance package because it actually has community benefit as long as the players’ health and safety aren’t at risk.
“There are tough times for a multitude of companies but we aren’t just another business – we do provide a level of weekly interest and hope that not many other companies do. It’s a passion for so many people.
“It’s an element of hope every week and it’s fun. I can watch my team – to not have that and focus on the catastrophic headlines isn’t what anyone wants.”
Penn said he was “impressed” with the leadership of ARL Commission chairman, Peter V’landys.
“He and the League are keeping communication high and are getting on the front foot, which we have to,” Penn said. “We are all in the same situation and we have to work together to find a solution.”
NRL CLUBS’ FINANCES
TIGERS: Don’t carry any debt but the club would be severely impacted by the season being postponed. Wests Ashfield Leagues Club has a healthy net asset balance of $60 million but it too is feeling the impact of the coronavirus. Any consideration given to using the assets of Wests Ashfield to ensure the survival of the Tigers would be a last resort.
RAIDERS: Owned by the powerful Queanbeyan Leagues Club that runs six licenced clubs with a new $20 million asset in the recently opened high performance facility. But it is important to note that the Raiders are run separately and would be in a world of hurt within two to three months without the broadcast money.
BULLDOGS: Are the controlling entity of the Canterbury Leagues Club with a conservative worth of well over $200 million that also consists of six houses and blocks of land. Like all NRL clubs rely heavily on the broadcasting cash for the day-to-day running of the football club. Still, would be in a pretty solid position if things get ugly in the coming months.
SHARKS: According to their annual report, the Sharks have $16 million in the bank as a result of $25 million in property sales from their Woolooware development site. Loans have been reduced from $4 million to $500,000. They also own their own home ground, the leagues club and Kareela golf club. However income will be affected over the next two years while the Leagues club is closed and the team is playing out of Kogarah.
WARRIORS: Owned by Autex Industries, a New Zealand-based manufacturing and product development company specialising in textiles and advanced fibre technology that has a staff of around 500 employees.
The Warriors are in an even more precarious situation than the rest at this point given the travel restrictions in place between Australia and New Zealand. If the Warriors players decide they won’t continue after round two expect this situation to become very tense if the owners were to miss out on their share of the broadcast revenue.
KNIGHTS: Knights CEO Phil Gardner has declared the club financially “secure”, even if the NRL season is temporarily halted because of coronavirus. “The Knights are in the fortunate position of being one of the most financially stable clubs in the NRL,” Gardner said of his franchise, which is owned by The Wests Group.
DRAGONS: The Dragons are solid financially thanks to being partially privatised by WIN Corporation, whose owner Bruce Gordon boasts a listed net worth of $702 million. WIN owns a 50 per cent stake in the joint-venture club, with the other half owned by St George District Rugby League Club.
EELS: While the Eels boast financial backing from Parramatta Leagues Club, it has been publicly reported that the footy club lost $10 million in 2017 and then $4 million the following year.
Contrary to some media reports, the Eels have not yet spoken definitively about the impact of any potential pay cuts as they still await further information from the RLPA and NRL.
SEA EAGLES: Live hand to mouth, according to majority shareholder Scott Penn. There simply isn’t a cash reserve to cover financial hardship. Each year the shareholders, primarily the Penn family, inject around $1 million to balance the books. The club dealt with an outstanding $2m tax bill last year. Have a modest budget and battle through financially every year. Rejected an offer for the club last year said to be worth $18m.
PANTHERS: Panthers Group owns five licenced clubs so have stable financial support. The club lost nearly $6 million in 2018 but did spend $2.5 million on junior league. Last year, Panthers recorded a $2 million profit from membership and ticket sales. Would survive longer than most other Sydney clubs suffering financial hardship.
RABBITOHS: As safe as any club is at present. Have the financial clout of Russell Crowe and James Packer behind them. The Rabbitohs have been prudent in recent years resulting in a $4m cash reserve. Most of that money has come through the club’s 29,000 members. Crowe and Packer own 37.5 per cent of the club, the remaining 25 per cent owned by South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club.
STORM: Backed by the strong ownership group of Gerry Ryan, Bart Campbell and Matthew Tripp, Melbourne was recently independently valued in excess of $30 million after the Storm’s owners agreed to allow prominent Victorian businessman Brett Ralph on board. Storm boss Dave Donaghy has called for a measured approach to the coronavirus situation.
“It’s unprecedented times. It’s going to require everyone pulling in the same direction with cool and calm heads,“ said Storm boss Dave Donaghy said.
ROOSTERS: The Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club, which pays the football club an annual grant, recorded a very healthy net asset position of almost $129 million for the year ending October, 2019. On top of a financially successful leagues club, the Roosters have the backing of Nick Politis, who made a fortune selling cars.
BRONCOS: The powerhouse Queensland club reportedly has around $15 million in the bank and could survive for several months if the NRL is postponed. The Broncos reported a $3 million profit in 2019, well ahead of their NRL rivals.
COWBOYS: The club has been pretty profitable in the past two years but could be affected if the NRL season is postponed.
TITANS: The privately-owned Titans will be affected if the season is postponed. Owners Darryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle will likely have to top up their own cash to keep the club going.
Clubs back NRL decision to play on; Cutting player salaries last resort
https://www.nrl.com/
All 16 clubs have reaffirmed their support for the NRL's decision to continuing playing matches behind closed doors during the global coronavirus pandemic.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg held a conference call with representatives of all the clubs and the Rugby League Players' Association on Wednesday afternoon and received unanimous approval to continue staging matches.
Round two will kick off on Thursday night with the Bulldogs hosting the Cowboys at an empty ANZ Stadium before the other seven scheduled matches proceed over the following three days without anyone in the stands.
The AFL has decided to go ahead with its season, confirming on Wednesday night after a meeting of the AFL's commissioners that Thursday's clash between Richmond and Carlton will proceed as scheduled.
The RLPA has also contacted its players to bring them up to speed on the impact of the pandemic on them and their careers.
RLPA general manager Clint Newton has conceded there may be no other option than for players to have their salaries reduced in the coming months but stressed it was a last-resort scenario.
The RLPA has released a video to their members, offering support and answering questions of potential issues that could arise from the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the collective bargaining agreement signed off in 2017, the NRL has the power to work with the RLPA and reduce salaries if revenue requirements were not met.
A spokesman for the RLPA confirmed to NRL.com that current NRL players, via their club delegates, had expressed concerns around their futures in recent days with the video offering clarity around where they stand.
Newton, in the video message to the players, stressed that they would explore all other avenues before considering any agreement to cut salaries.
"Right now, given the NRL competition is continuing, we are not considering any reduction in player payments," Newton said in the video message to members.
"However, if the competition were to be paused or suspended for any period of time, we may be forced to consider that.
"Any reduction in player payments and benefits need to be agreed with us. Player salaries would be the last thing we look to reduce.
"There are other areas we may look to draw upon, such as injury hardship fund, marketing pool, retirement account and representative payments to help offset any downturn in the revenue.
"We can also look at reducing future payments such as the salary cap in ensuing years. We don’t have to necessarily take all the money out in one year or we may look to defer player benefits down the line."
Clubs and states are bracing for a massive financial loss if the NRL continues to operate at crowd less venues.
ARL chairman Peter V'landys conceded earlier in the week the game would struggle to survive if the Telstra Premiership was suspended for the entire season.
"If the reduction in the revenues are significant, the players will need to share in that," Newton said.
"But it's important to remember that it's only our portion of that percentage – clubs, states and NRL will also share in any losses.
"Any reduction in player payments will be spread across all players - it won’t be absorbed by any one team or any one group of players. It’s important that we stick together on this.
"It’s important to know, after all that, that we are not there at this point. These are simply all considerations we will work through if or when the game may be suspended or paused."
NRL clubs left disgruntled by idea of weighting financial support to clubs that need more money
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Tuesday’s phone meeting between all 16 NRL clubs was a chance for the game to plot a course through the unknown waters ahead. Instead, a proposal to give greater funding to clubs in need has left divisions exposed, writes PAUL KENT.
Solidarity among the NRL and its 16 clubs has been greatly exaggerated, with some clubs threatening to sue the NRL if they proceed with an unequal funding model to save troubled clubs.
Tuesday’s phone hook-up between the NRL and all 16 club bosses was presented as an NRL in solidarity but public messages conveyed in the conference quickly shifted afterwards.
NRL chief financial officer Tony Crawford proposed a funding model last Thursday that would see more money delivered to clubs in greater financial stress, at the expense of other NRL clubs.
Clubs are still divided on the issue and NRL boss Todd Greenberg said “there are as many for it as they are against it. The clubs are split on this.”
Greenberg and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys have both declared they will do everything to ensure all 16 clubs survive.
Their message goes in the face of the NRL’s declaration several years ago, when the club grants were raised to a staggering $13 million, that clubs would no longer be bailed out by the League if they got into financial trouble.
And it has angered some clubs.
Crawford’s proposal quickly drew a protest from South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly, who as a result later withdrew from the committee formed to counter the coronavirus crisis.
“Why should we take less in funding because we have been able to manage our affairs?” one club boss said.
“It’s not our fault those clubs are in that position. It’s their fault and it is the NRL’s fault.”
Threats of legal action were made if the NRL persists with the planned unequal funding model.
It is quintessential rugby league, a show of solidarity presented one day and which lasted, oh, basically the weekend.
The code has now agreed to a different funding model which will see standardised funding but also unequal bail out funding and unequal cost reductions given the different circumstances of each club.
It is far from the end of the game’s problems, though.
When most of us dream of going dollar for dollar in the pay stakes with NRL footballers we usually dream of weekend benders and speed boats in the garage, of annual holidays to Las Vegas. Admittedly, they were your men’s dreams.
A meeting on Wednesday will change much of that.
The NRL players will begin negotiations to take a pay cut that could save all their jobs, which will come around quicker than they can imagine, but which will be the first step in a sharply changing world.
Another whose pay-packet will take a haircut is NRL boss Todd Greenberg.
Greenberg and his executive have already agreed to take a pay cut that matches the players.
If the players lose 20 per cent from monthly wages, so will Greenberg and his team.
It is a sign of new-found solidarity between the NRL and the players.
“The players and the game have never been closer,” Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton said on Tuesday.
Caught somewhere in the middle are the clubs, who tried their best to present a solid front in a phone hook-up with the NRL but who frayed a little around the edges as the day wore on.
The clubs debated their positions, with some stunned the NRL plans to fund clubs more than others.
The hook-up was intended to be an information meeting.
How much cash did the NRL have stashed away?
It’s $153 million.
How long will the competition be suspended for?
Nobody knows.
What are the plans?
The NRL has preliminary plans for a season restart on June 1, July 1, August 1 and September 1.
If the completion does not resume by September 1 then it will be cancelled and players can begin preparing for next season.
Clubs are trying to navigate their survival. The two State leagues, the NSW Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League, are also nervous they have so far been left out of negotiations.
With different ownership models among the clubs each had different suggestions for how the clubs should be funded.
Greenberg and the NRL executive will match whatever pay cuts the players are forced to take.
Wednesday’s meeting includes the NRL executive, Greenberg and chief financial officer Tony Crawford, club representatives Blake Solly (Souths), Joe Kelly (Roosters), Paul White (Brisbane) and Andrew Hill (Canterbury), and the RLPA’s Newton and his chief operating officer Tim Lythe.
Under the agreement, splits the financial upside and downside evenly between four stakeholder groups. They are the NRL, the 16 clubs, the States (NSW and Queensland) and the players.
“The players absolutely accept they will share in the downside,” Newton said.
“How much they have to sacrifice is going to depend on what the financials look like and the information that they will provide.
“Until we get that we don’t know how much it will be.”
The first chunk of money affected will not be the players’ wages but their benefits and entitlements. These include annual payments for retirement, marketing, injury hardship, leave and prize money.
Annually, the players have raked in somewhere in the vicinity of $15-$17 million in recent years.
That amount will be minimal, at best this season. So the next sacrifice is the big one, from their wages.
Until the RLPA knows exactly how much money is being lost to the game it is unsure
It will be at least 20 per cent.
The AFL players have accepted a 50 per cent pay rise but the difference is the detail.
The AFL pay cut is while the competition is suspended, which goes through to May 31. It will rise to 75 per cent when they resume playing and stays at 75 per cent when they start playing.
The NRL will pay cut being discussed is until the end of the NRL financial year, October 31.
Potentially, the NRL’s cut could be significantly bigger.
I would be so disappointed if our CEO made such a comment and withdraw from a committee to save our game from corona virus crisis.
He probably has 400 rolls of toilet paper too.
Hahaha good call JB.Quote:
Originally Posted by JunctionBlock
'With heavy heart' Cowboys stand down majority of staff
https://www.nrl.com/
As a result of the NRL’s suspension of the 2020 season, the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys today stood down the majority of its football and administrative staff. There remains a skeleton staff to oversee administrative responsibilities during the period of suspension.
Chief Executive Officer Jeff Reibel said today was a very difficult one for the club.
“It was with a heavy heart that we talked with our people today about the decisions which were necessary to ensure the club’s survival of this unprecedented disruption to our 2020 season,” he said.
“It was excruciatingly difficult to let our people know through no fault of their own and in spite of the incredible talent they share with our club on a daily basis, that their positions were stood down.
Chairman Lewis Ramsay thanked the club’s staff for their commitment to the club.
“Our people have worked so diligently and selflessly for many months to prepare for our 2020 season and on behalf of the Board I would like to express how grateful the club is for the personal and professional contributions and sacrifices they have made,” he said.
“While the length of the season’s suspension is unknown, the club’s determination to return people to their roles as soon as possible remains steadfast.”
Head Coach Paul Green assured members, fans and partners that the football team are committed to returning to the field in the best possible competitive shape.
“While it’s disappointing we cannot currently carry on with our season, we understand there are greater concerns for the community and the safety of our staff and players is paramount,” he said.
“Whilst we will take this opportunity to freshen up, our team will continue to train and keep themselves in good shape. Rest assured that when the season recommences, we will be fit and raring to go.”
59-0 ...................
Broncos humiliated as Roosters run riot in 59-0 victory at Suncorp Stadium
There are not enough words left to describe the hole Brisbane now find themselves in. Decimated by injury, utterly demoralised and ripped apart by the Sydney Roosters in a record-breaking defeat at Suncorp Stadium.
Peter Badel, The Courier-Mail
June 4, 2020 11:18pm
Close
This wasn’t an NRL contest. This was men belting boys.
Injury ravaged Brisbane slumped to the worst loss in their 32-year history as the red-hot Roosters spanked the Baby Broncos in a stunning 59-0 massacre at Suncorp Stadium.
The 10-try carve-up also represented Brisbane’s worst-ever loss at Suncorp Stadium, leaving the battered Broncos in tatters ahead of Thursday night’s road trip to face Manly on the NSW Central Coast.
This serving of ineptitude eclipsed the Broncos’ 58-0 finals horror show against the Eels last September, which triggered an internal player review by coach Anthony Seibold.
The Broncos went into the clash without injured Alex Glenn, Jack Bird and David Fifita and suspended Tevita Pangai Jr and Kotoni Staggs but not even Allan Langer would have saved them from the type of defeat that spotlights a club’s culture.
The Broncos board should be asking questions of this debacle and how the NRL’s richest club can serve up such a pathetic standard of football.
Injuries alone can be no excuse for a second consecutive implosion after last week’s 34-6 loss to the Eels.
In the space of seven days, the Broncos have conceded 93 points, leaked 16 tries and missed 54 tackles.
There was no heart. No energy. No commitment. No cohesion. No line speed. No apparent spirit and simply no constructive ideas as the Broncos capitulated against the back-to-back premiers, who hummed along like a Rolls Royce.
The Roosters were slick. Brisbane were shambolic.
The scary thing is that Roosters sensation James Tedesco (illness) was a late scratching. If the NRL’s No.1 player appeared, the Roosters would have won by 70.
Even allowing for Brisbane’s injury toll, this performance was unacceptable for a glamour club like the Broncos. Club founder Paul ‘Porky’ Morgan would be turning in his grave.
Never has this club looked so utterly clueless.
The Broncos were so lifeless in the first half their troops should have had temperature checks at half-time.
Some of the Roosters’ five first-half tries were so soft it looked like the premiers were cantering through a training run. The most emphatic evidence came in the 10th minute, when Broncos veteran Darius Boyd was horribly caught out rushing up in defence, allowing Joseph Manu to score in the corner untouched.
In the 59th minute, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins strolled over like he was walking down Queen St Mall.
Brisbane’s pain was inescapable.
Regardless of the opposition, the Broncos will not compete for the top eight if they continue to disrespect possession. Their first-half completion rate was 47 per cent.
While he has a depleted squad, coach Seibold has to somehow raise the spirit of his troops to keep their finals ambitions on track.
Darius Boyd’s defence at left centre was woeful and halfback Brodie Croft could be dropped in favour of Tom Dearden. But the real problem is Brisbane’s inexperienced pack … and a side which is simply too young to compete with the big boys.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 59 (A Crichton 2 L Collins K Flanagan L Keary J Manu B Morris J Morris V Radley D Tupou tries K Flanagan 9 goals L Keary field goal) bt BRISBANE 0 at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Grant Atkins.
Badel must have hated writing that....
The Broncos have given up 132 points so far this year (4 games) and we have given up 106 (3 games). 96 of the Broncos points have been in the last 2 weeks. In the midst of all this gloom I can still smile a little.... :eyebrows:
NRL 'six-again' rule changes lead to blowout backlash
https://wwos.nine.com.au/
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney believes the NRL's radical rule changes have led to an increase in blowout scorelines, including their scoreless loss to Penrith.
A week after holding St George Illawarra to nil, the Warriors were on the wrong end of a 26-0 defeat to the Panthers on Friday night.
It was the second straight night a team failed to score point, with Brisbane also failing to trouble the scoresheet in a 59-0 humiliation against Sydney Roosters.
In fact, of the ten games played since the six-again rule was rushed in last week, eight have been decided by more than two tries.
"There's no doubt it's a by-product of a team getting momentum," Kearney said.
"Having to make a number of tackles in a row and all of a sudden defending your tryline under some real fatigue, there's no doubt that plays a part."
Kearney also questioned why no Panthers were sent to the sin bin for multiple ruck infringements that resulted in a 6-2 advantage in set restarts.
"I reckon they had about five of them on the first tackle tonight," he said.
"And when I last read the brief, it said that if they were making multiple six-again infringements, that someone was going to go to the bin. I didn't see that happen."
However, Kearney insists none of those factors were the major reason his team went from playing almost the perfect game to producing a crass one.
He conceded his team, who are now 1-3 to start the season, simply gave away too many penalties and struggled with their last-tackle options.
"I just didn't think we gave ourselves a chance tonight," he said.
"I reckon what the new game is teaching us is that when you miss the jump or lose momentum, it's very hard to claw back."
Kearney is also refusing to use the New Zealand club's indefinite relocation to Australia, brought on by the coronavirus, as an excuse.
"I don't think the adrenaline or emotion's going to be an issue," he said.
"The reality is we missed our jobs tonight and we get another opportunity to work on that and fix it next Friday."
Kearney confirmed strike wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a won't be back for next week's clash with North Queensland.
I used to hate the Thursday/Friday Night Drongoes
Now I look forward to it
Drongoes misery is Joy joy joy
I came here to say the same thing. How good. Can't wait to dust them next week.
Second week in a row I’ve watched Cecchin completely referee SouFFS nonSydney opposition out of the game in the first half.
What about the injury’s this week ,
Radley arguably the chooks best out for the season along with Verrills , I don’t think they can win the comp without him
Moses torn calf , he needs to be on the park for the Eels to play in a GF
Turbo similar to Moses
Raiders no Bateman
Long way to go but maybe the Riff could be the early smoky
#ihatethestorm
Get around the Canterbury Dogs
They beat Wests and Drongoes are coming last.
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Hoping the Raiders can do over the Sharks. Match still in process.
Sharks getting shown up as the pretenders that they really are.
At least we had one good game this weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by gotitans101_
At least the Sharks started off giving a fight, they just didn't have SJ to ice opportunities for them unfortunately. End of set options were very poor at times. Wasn't enjoyable to watch really with Raiders playing poorly and Sharks just not good enough to do anything. Looking forward to watching Tino though!