The NRL is now bracing itself for the financial fallout of playing before empty stadiums, with one senior club executive estimating it would cost the clubs a combined $80 million in lost game-day revenue if fans were locked out for the rest of the season. The even worse scenario, though, is for matches to be called off altogether due to COVID-19 and if the health crisis affects the game’s showpiece, the State of Origin series, this winter. The NRL confirmed its two broadcast partners, Fox Sports and Nine, the publisher of this masthead, had on Friday conveyed their preference for games to go ahead rather than the season being delayed or games being called off. Cronulla's Bronson Xerri has been tested for coronavirus. Credit:NRL Photos That could be taken out of the NRL’s hands, however, if a player, coach, staff member or another person associated with a team contracts the virus given the likelihood of transmission between players. One positive test in the NBA led to the whole league being suspended. There was already concern on Friday when it emerged that that two Cronulla players had reported flu-like symptoms and been isolated. Cronulla doctor Paul Annett said one player had been tested for coronavirus as a precaution. According to sources, Xerri was the player tested.

"Neither has travelled or been in contact with anyone who has travelled to COVID-19 affected areas, are low risk and there is no suggestion they have contracted the virus," Annett said. Greenberg said he had been in contact with the Sharks, who are due to play South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday. "We’re doing this with all of our clubs," Greenberg said. "If players are presenting flu-like symptoms we want them tested. We want to take all those precautions so Cronulla are doing the right thing." While Greenberg was in Townsville before Friday night's opening of the North Queensland Cowboys' new stadium, V'landys was holed up at his Hunters Hill home with a whiteboard and a marker pen on Friday, glued to his phone and war gaming for the worst. The ARLC chairman wasn’t at his office at Racing NSW headquarters in the city because his two children had croup and in the current climate he was eager not to spread it around. In these extraordinary times, however, V’landys saw his self-isolation in a positive light, allowing him "uninterrupted time to deal with" the impact of the coronavirus spread on the two major Australian sports he oversees, rugby league and racing. Like most professional sport, the NRL relies heavily on fees from its broadcasters, who pay in monthly instalments, under the five-year $1.7 billion television deal with Fox Sports and Nine which runs until 2022. V’landys said the outlook was "sick" for the code if matches began to be abandoned.

"What we need to do is at the very minimum, we want to play games because without playing the game we’re in trouble," V’landys said. "That’s where we’re going to need assistance from government because the game has got to stay financially viable. Loading "The whole game’s future will depend on its viability. If we can’t play, it has severe consequences, worse than that, dire consequences. How do you stay viable? That’s why the games have got to stay on if we can because at least we can get the broadcast rights [fees] and that’s significant. That’s about 70 to 80 per cent of our revenue." V’landys, as Racing NSW chief executive, in 2007 successfully negotiated a $235 million government package to help rescue the industry after the outbreak of equine influenza and he said "it’s a similar situation here". "There are thousands and thousands of people that depend on the game. It’s got an economic multiplier right across everything," he said. "Needless to say rugby league is part of the fabric of society [particularly in] NSW and Queensland. So the government as part of the stimulus has got to ensure that sport and in particular rugby league, its financial viability, remains good."