NRL / AFL setting a precedence

[Aliqua]

With the huge push that the NRL and secondly the AFL are putting on the state governments to allow them to play again, do you think that will enable other sporting groups, ie shooting ranges and even the allowance to hunt etc to open up again with specific distancing rules?

It would be nice knowing we dont have to wait for another 6 months...

[JimTom]

One can only hope.

[Ziege]

I personally think they're gonna end up with cases of covid and there's going to be a huge "I told you so" coming from the authorities which sadly will bolster their grasp on everyone's freedoms

[Bill]

Well Horse racing has managed the virus well so far with extensive testing, its just that jockeys dont tackle jockeys

I personally think with testing morning, noon and night they could probably start up, will be costly but lest costly than not.

[JimTom]

Considering there are apparently a distinct lack of testing kits, I think they’d be better utilised on those who need them. Personally I think we have bigger fish to fry than worrying about a bunch of spoiled over paid sports “stars” playing footy regardless of which code it is. Yes I understand it is an industry in its own right however not in the least bit essential.

[TassieTiger]

Absolutely JT.

[Ziege]

JimTom is right, and sorry but I think if you're more worried about sports now than what's going on both on the face of it and behind the scenes in real life then you need to seriously re-evaluate your life.

[Aliqua]

JT you are right. What i found sad was that they thought they were above the 1500$ a fortnight offering from govt. At the end of the day it doesnt matter if you are a CEO or a sports "star". If you don't work, you dont get paid. It's not an entitlement like they thought it was....

Anyway I was just hoping that regardless of the method that they start again that it might allow other sports to start too.

[Blr243]

I’m appalled at the nrl fight to play .....it’s discracefull and incredibly selfish. Tod carney gets the sack for ( we all know ) If they want to maintain a reputation they should be setting an example OF RESPONSIBILITY .. Thousands of people are dying allowed the world Where is the NRL inegrity unit right now ?

[JimTom]

Well hopefully we can see and end to this situation in the not to distant future (wishful thinking I know) and we can start to transition back to normal life, well as normal as it gets for some anyway.

[Blr243]

I’m ok with 3 non family people getting fined for close gathering on the beach ... these measures work. They save lives. Our government ,while implementing these social distancing rules surely can’t give the green light to close contact sport involving interstate travel....it’s sending the wrong message ......the nrl has to suck it up like the rest of us ......Netflix, YouTube chocolate, walking the dog,

[Stix]

The only reason for it to resume is finance based...all the tax revenue the govt gets from it...but id imagine people wont be spending what they once did, so i rekon once they've gotten over themselves (players & the like), they can hit the button on the centrelink page just like everyone else...!!
I rekon a good few of them need a return to terra firma anyway...!!

There is the sporting nutters & habitual gamblers that will be going nuts, but then spending a season watching the archives on fox footy wont kill them.

I cant believe dangerfield & the afl players association first turned down a deal for a 50% pay cut...
Must be very hard to be forced to living on 300k a year...
Talk about over-entitled...!!

[Aliqua]

Some coaches took pay cuts to support their staff - enough said. The players are illiterate and uneducated morons who have been given too much money and no education as to how and/or why they are getting it - not to mention their inability to plan ahead (given the fact that most of them retire in their 30's and still have 30 years of work, and will not have any savings to show for it...). Every member on this forum probably has more savings than any professional nfl/afl player!

Federal Health Minister today said it's unlikely they will be starting again - so I guess thats a good sign for equality across the industries.

In relation to your statement about the revenue from sport, they don't really provide that much tax to the Australian Govt. in relation to trade (10% of the workforce in Australia is trade), retail, hospitality, tourism - they're shut down and they provide the largest injection back into the govt (from both company taxes, industry taxes and income taxes).

[Ziege]

As far as I'm concerned, if the government expect people to survive on $750 a week, which is $39k then a footballer on $250k should be able to budget out 6.5 years on one year of their income... If they've lived beyond their means then that's just too bad I say.