On a beautiful sunny winter weekend, NRL season ticket holders and fans would have liked nothing better than to attend footy matches. Especially with blockbusters between Panthers v Eels and, West Tigers v Rabbitohs at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.
But most of the State is in lockdown and the players are aware of this. Playing in front of empty stadiums is a timely reminder.
Dragons fans will be fuming to hear at least six first grade players congregated at a senior player’s home over the weekend. The pending fines from NSW Police will be the least of their problem if the NRL Covid-19 bubble was breached.
The Dragons could be banking on the State Government lockdown ending and the NRL lowering their Covid Biosecurity Levels or all these players will be missing from their RD18 clash against the Sea Eagles. With the team battling to remain in the Top 8, points differential could be crucial whether the Dragons feature in the finals.
We have already seen five Bulldogs players, as well as, Newtown Jets/Sharks player Josh Dugan stood down for 14 days for breaching NRL protocols. The Bulldogs were smashed 66-0 by the Sea Eagles.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence these infringements have occurred around team bye rounds.
The selfishness of these players is letting down the governing body, their club, teammates and supporters. It is placing the NRL at the mercy of megalomaniac State Premiers who could dictate new terms at a whim.
I would not want to be the player that brings in Covid or suspends the competition.
