NRL season suspended indefinitely, players to take pay cut

The NRL has officially suspended the season indefinitely due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

It was a decision taken out of the NRL’s hands after they were informed by their pandemic and biosecurity experts that it is no longer safe for players to play.

Round two games had taken place behind closed doors but the rapid rate of the coronavirus outbreak over the last 24 hours forced ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to call the hiatus.

“It’s catastrophic, I don’t think we’ve ever come across a financial crisis like it,” V’landys said.

“You can’t understate it, it’s probably the biggest challenge the game will ever face financially.

“Rugby league will always survive in some way but I can’t guarantee it will in the same way. We’re ready for the worst.”

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg added: “We’re talking about rugby league but we’re talking about a much broader issue in our community.”

“We can still pay the players, but the cost base will need to be reset. From players to clubs, central administration.

“Rugby league has been around since 1908 and we’ve had struggles and bounced back. It won’t be easy but we’ll come out the other end.”

It was also confirmed that the New Zealand Warriors would return to Auckland after initially announcing they would remain in Australia to see out the season.