NRL

Players in the National Rugby League (NRL), one of Australia's football codes, resumed team training yesterday with the objective of beginning competition at the end of the month.  It's a matter that has stirred some intense public debate.

Terrigal dawn this morning (courtesy Julie)

They are doing so with the approval of New South Wales and Queensland, where the training and competition will be conducted, and are apparently meeting all the government requirements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  The teams are training in isolation and the New Zealand Warriors team has flown in from New Zealand with the approval of the Federal government.  Although the Warriors are doing their pre-season training in the country town of Tamworth, it is rumoured they will soon be based in Terrigal, just around the corner, literally.

I don't feel strongly one way or another about this.  I don't accept the argument that because other people are doing it tough, the NRL, which is seen by many as non-essential, should not be allowed to operate.  There are plenty of examples of some people doing just fine in the current environment while others are struggling.  There's no good reason why everybody should struggle.

Erina Creek this morning (courtesy Julie)

Although I don't like the exceptionalism seemingly evident in the authorities treatment of the NRL, I suspect there are plenty of exceptions being made to travel and social-distancing requirements that don't make the headlines.  I also accept that the NRL is a business with employees, and provided they satisfy government regulations and don't endanger the public, they should be able to resume work.

I do have trouble working out how rugby players observe social-distancing while tackling each other and they will not be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  As a justification, I suppose you could argue that there are other professions continuing to operate without social-distancing and PPE, such as construction, and it's impossible to go to the supermarket, or even for a walk or run, without being in close proximity to other people at least some of the time.

Erina Creek this morning (courtesy Julie)

So, maybe it's really about the perceived risk.  There are so few new cases of COVID-19 being recorded in Australia each day, the chances that a socially-isolated NRL team member becomes infected must be extremely small.  I'm sure there will be frequent testing, and if a team member does fall ill, presumably the team, and maybe recent opponents, will be quarantined and the competition timetable will have to be rejigged accordingly.  This is not so different to what will happen when there are COVID-19 outbreaks in other parts of the economy, though it will be big news and there will be a lot of "I told you so's".

No running or walking for me today.