2020 - The Cyber View from the Hill

20th May 2020

2 months enforced Covid-19 Break

Its been a tough 8 weeks. Never in the history of the game has the game been should down for such a long extended period. And it hasn't just been the game, workplaces have been shutdown, the city, the state, the country and the whole planet. It's been a very strange period where everyone has stayed at home and switched to video conferencing just to stay in touch. We have seen the U16s and U18s junior seasons abandoned threequarters of the way through. Then we saw U20s and Reseve Grade and Womens State competitions abandoned after just one round. Its only been the NRL who has battled against all odd to get back on the field. And now we are within 10 days of the season relaunching, I can't wait for the games to return even if still only on TV.

Mago and Hawkins benefit

The 8 week break has been a godsend. Their pre-season injuries have mended and now both are in full contact training. Hawkins and Dargan have teamed up in opposing team drills while Mago has been finding his feet again and is chance of making a return very soon.

Offield concerns

It's been a poor period offield with a number of our players having issues off the field. Lattrell Mitchell was involved in a social distancing issue around his farm and copped a heavy fine. While Cody Walker was involved in incident before Xmas that only came out this week and has been suspended for two weeks. While James Roberts struggled with alchol during the break and had to go into rehab and as a result was late in joining his team mates at training.

NRL Project Apollo success

When early COVID-19 statistics showed a potential target return in May or June, the NRL setup a task force to determine what was required to get back on the field. Every obstical thrown up was overcome, from border protections, tv rights deals, bio security, venues, number of rounds and the last hurdle referees. May 28 has been delivered. Rugby League has led the way in Australia for all sports and will showcase itself across the world, being the first contact sport back on Only two soccer leagues in Korea and Germany beat the NRL back onto field.