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The NRL’s innovation committee - Project Apollo - has locked in May 28 as the day the 2020 season will return to action.

But there’s plenty that needs to happen before that’s a reality, with a longer season than previously expected on the cards

Round 20

Here are the latest updates.

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22 WEEK SEASON ON THE CARDS

The 2020 NRL season could run longer than first expected, with broadcasters set to negotiate for between 17 and 22 weeks when talks resume on Friday.

Channel Nine’s erratic approach to the resumption of the NRL season continued on Thursday night when it appeared to question the planned May 28 restart.

However, sources confirmed to Foxsports.com.au that chief executive Hugh Marks was still supportive of the restart despite reporters on his own network suggesting there was fresh reluctance towards the May 28 date.

Nine is believed to be pushing for a 17-week season, while Fox Sports will suggest a 22-week season from May 28, inclusive of the two weeks already played before the Coronavirus epidemic stopped play.

Executives from both broadcasters are expected to reach an agreement with league boss Peter V’Landys when talks resume on Friday.

FRIDAY’S PROJECT APOLLO MEETING POSTPONED

Project Apollo was due to meet on Friday to lock in the revised draw, however James Hooper revealed on Fox League Live that the meeting has been postponed to the middle of next week.

Hooper says the meeting has been pushed back due to ongoing broadcast negotiations between the NRL, Fox Sports and Channel Nine.

Nine are pushing for a 17-week competition, while Fox Sports wants a 20-week draw. These contrasting views need to be sorted before a draw and further logistics around the revamped season can be announced.

FED GOVT TO LOOK ‘FAVOURABLY’ ON WARRIORS

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the federal government is open to granting the Warriors an exemption from the Australian Border Force to arrive in Australia to participate in the resumption of the NRL competition.

Morrison has been in dialogue with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about relaxing travelling restrictions for those across the Tasman.

“Now if there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that’s New Zealand,” Morrison told reporters on Thursday.

“We have similar trajectories, their restrictions have been far greater. Our (coronavirus) case response has been the same, if not better, than New Zealand.”

Morrison pointed out that the Border Force commissioner has already granted exemptions for some international travellers to enter the country. The Warriors are likely to be next.

“That is an area that I think we can look potentially favourably on, provided all the other arrangements are in place regarding public safety,” Morrison said.

Earlier on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he was planning on talking with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to discuss the league’s resumption.

New Zealand is in Alert Level 4 lockdown but has already announced that restrictions will be eased on Monday, allowing people to return to work.

Dutton described the country as low risk, however, any visitors would be forced into a mandatory two-week isolation period.

“The Warriors would come into NSW or wherever it was, Queensland, they would have to go through the two weeks isolation as would be the case for anybody,” Dutton said on 2GB radio.

Morrison said that, given the likelihood of all NRL games being played in NSW, the state government would have the final say on the competition’s return.

“It’s principally a matter for the NSW government because, as I understand the proposal, that’s where the matches are being played and so they have the health authority over what occurs with that.”

The NRL is investigating whether the Warriors will be permitted to train together while in isolation, possibly in Lennox Head on the NSW far north coast.

The club has yet to sign off on the move, demanding answers from the league on the length of the season and how much players would be remunerated.

All 16 teams have been told to prepare for a resumption in training on May 4 with stringent health protocols expected to be outlined to clubs on Friday.

The Federal Government are open to exempting the Warriors from travel restrictions. Source: AAP

QLD PREMIER CALLS OUT NRL OVER LACK OF COMMUNICATION

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has demanded the NRL send her a letter detailing why rugby league should be allowed to recommence next month.

ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce confirmed the NRL was given the green light from government to restart the season on May 28.

But Premier Palaszczuk says the Queensland Government has not yet received enough information to approve the restart of rugby league in its state.

“There is no detailed plan. I call on the NRL to submit that detailed plan and I will immediately forward it to Dr Young for her consideration and to report back to me,” Palaszczuk said to The Courier Mail.

“I’m saying to the NRL, send the detailed plan, send all of your health information, send how it’s all going to work.

“Put it in a detailed plan and I’m more than happy to forward it to Dr Young. Dr Young has said today she’s more than happy to consider it.

“I think they’ve been dealing with the NSW Government and I think they need to submit it to all other governments that have NRL teams.

“If everyone can just wait until we get the detailed plans and let Dr Young consider it … the sooner they get it in the better it will be.”

C OWBOYS COACH READY TO ACCEPT RELOCATING

Teams outside of NSW are facing the very real prospect of relocating andNorth Queensland coach Paul Green says although the circumstances are not the same across all 16 clubs, they have to just accept it and move forward.

“No it’s not (the same across the board) but I think if you look at everything that’s going on at the moment, life’s not fair,” Green said.

“There’s a number of different industries where this situation we’re in has absolutely wreaked havoc so I think the fact that we can get ourselves back on the playing field as a game that’s probably everyone’s priority at the moment.

“Will it all be fair if teams have to relocate? Probably not, but it is what it is so if we want to get the footy back on board we need to deal with it and get on with it.”

CLUBS ‘CONCERNED’ AS NRL ENLISTS SPIES

While supportive of a competition restart, some NRL clubs are concerned time is running out to meet an as yet unknown list of biosecurity measures ahead of a proposed return to training on May 4.

Following a phone hook-up with all 16 club bosses on Wednesday, the NRL’s Project Apollo innovation committee confirmed the competition is on track to restart next month.

However, a lack of detail around proposed biosecurity measures, as well as no update on a broadcast agreement, competition structure and grants have left some clubs nervous about the May 4 deadline.

One club boss told AAP that while optimistic of the competition restarting on May 28, there are concerns around the lack of specifics with competition points on the line.

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The NRL has warned any breach of the biosecurity measures will carry strict penalties, understood to include loss of competition points and fines. The NRL is also looking at appointing an independent “spy” to make sure teams are abiding by strict protocols once training resumes.

Proposed biosecurity guidelines for football departments to adhere to will be released on Friday, giving clubs six business days to organise equipment and staff on limited budgets.

Most clubs have already stood down the majority of their staff, with many relying on government assistance through JobKeeper to pay employees.

- via AAP

BENNETT DENIES BUNNIES ARE CHEATING

Wayne Bennett has denied claims South Sydney Rabbitohs were cheating the system after star hooker Damien Cook appeared to let slip the club’s training plans.

Appearing on Fox League Live, Cook said revealed South Sydney plan on returning to training for individual testing next week as the NRL plots its comeback from the coronavirus.

However that is a week ahead of schedule for the May 4 return date to training.

“On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we have different timeslots I think we are going to be given to do a bit of weight and fitness testing,” Cook said on Fox League Live.

“And then from there certain boys might need to be going in and doing one-on-one sessions with their coaches until we can train as a group.”

But Bennett told the Sydney Morning Herald there was no funny business.

“We were just trying to get ahead of the game and put temporary plans in place subject to today’s meeting - they will be changing now,” Bennett told reporter Michael Chammas.

“… If we don’t follow those rules, we will lose points or be fined - it’s as simple as that.”

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett. Source: Getty Images

SEASON RESTART MAY STILL BE PUSHED BACK TWO WEEKS

While Wayne Pearce says the season will definitely resume on May 28, the Sydney Morning Herald reports it’s not exactly locked in yet.

The Warriors have not yet flown to Australia and when they do, they’ll likely need to quarantine for the mandatory two weeks before being allowed contact with one another.

That means while the 15 other NRL clubs can resume squad training on May 4, the Warriors could be disadvantaged.

And if they can’t gain an exemption from the government to train together, the Herald reports Round 3 could still be pushed back to June 11, two weeks after Pearce’s “definite” return.

NRL GET GREEN LIGHT TO RESTART ON MAY 28

Points from the opening two rounds of the NRL will stand with all clubs able to return to training on May 4 ahead of next month’s planned restart.

The NRL confirmed on Wednesday that all teams would have a three-week pre-season before the competition aims to resume on May 28, with specifics yet to be finalised.

Strict new biosecurity measures will be a focus of the return, with harsh penalties for anyone who flouts the rules.

The development followed Wayne Pearce’s Project Apollo meeting on Wednesday morning and a late-afternoon telephone hook up with all 16 club chief executives.

“We reaffirmed that May 28 is the starting date for the competition, we also confirmed that teams will be able to train from May 4,” Pearce told reporters.

“The competition points earnt in the first two rounds will also carry over to the extended competition.”

READ MORE HERE

QLD TEAMS RELUCTANT TO RELOCATE STILL

Paul Kent says the NRL are discussing the prospect of a 20 round season, which will be dependant on a negotiation with broadcasters.

The NRL will meet with broadcasters again on Friday with a season schedule expected to be finalised in the next week after the NSW government rubber-stamped a May 28 return.

The NRL have different draws drawn up to meet the outcomes of broadcast meetings as well as meetings with the Queensland government over the potential relocation of teams from their state.

“The NRL have plans in place for what the various draws will look like,” Kent said.

“It will take a couple of days if not too much needs to be done to it, but if a major reshuffle needs to take place they reckon in seven to 10 days they will have a draw.

“The Project Apollo committee are in meetings with the Queensland government and are trying to get it across the line that by May 28 Queensland teams will be able to fly in and fly out as they did in Round 2.”

READ MORE HERE