Agar has doubts over whether season will finish

Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar has issued a warning that Super League must have contingencies in place for the remainder of this season.

This week saw Catalans Dragons report multiple positive cases of coronavirus, resulting in the postponement of their scheduled fixture against Wigan Warriors.

It comes just two weeks after Hull FC’s match against Salford was called off for similar reasons and the Rhinos boss is becoming increasingly concerned.

“I think whether the season will finish is in the conversation,” said Agar. “There’s always nervousness when you get news like this.

“If we continue getting impacted by this, it will certainly create problems for the fixtures.

“It is a concern. I think everyone is putting plenty of measures and safeguarding in place. This is a highly contagious disease and we have to be really careful.

“It is unfortunate that you can be extremely careful when out and about but yet still pick something up.

“If this continues and clubs will have to step down for two weeks then it will certainly test the competition and we will have to come up with some contingencies.

“Coming up with contingencies that are fair and realistic is very difficult.”

The Rhinos have reported no cases of coronavirus since the season resumed, playing all three rounds of Super League fixtures.

Agar insists this is down to the strict security measures implemented at the club, allowing the players to focus on what happens on the pitch.

“I have been stressing to our players on what is expected of them outside of the club in every regard,” he said.

“The lads and ladies who look after us are very strict on the housekeeping aspect of things and are very religious on how they implement the rules.

“We constantly get reminders as it has been hard at times. When you go about your day-to-day business, you can have a very easy slip on the one-way system in the building.

“They are ‘super keen’ on that. The boys chose to have a meeting about what we are doing away from here and the sacrifice over the next two to three months.

“We also spoke on the ramifications on whether the season should be suspended and the impact it would have on all of us as a team as well as individuals.

“I have a bunch of players who are in this together and the odd player who has been a little lax in what they have been doing, they have been quick to call each other out in the right way.”