Channel Nine's 'bombshell' move in NRL restart controversy

Channel Nine has thrown a huge curveball in the NRL’s ‘definite’ restart date of May 28, labelling it premature.

The NRL has maintained May 28 is a planned return date it is working towards, with everything still on track.

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Project Apollo leader Wayne Pearce stated publicly that “May 28 is a definite” as he also confirmed players would return to training on May 4.

The NRL is still in discussions with Nine and Foxtel about the season’s restart and is to present its extensive biosecurity measures to the NSW government.

However free-to-air broadcasters Nine dropped a ‘bombshell’ late on Thursday that throws the May 28 plans into fresh doubt.

“Although we agree constructive discussions have been held between the NRL, Nine and Foxtel, we feel it's premature to be confirming a start date at this stage,” a Nine spokesperson said.

“There is a great will to work together to an outcome but a lot of work still to do.

“A deal needs to be completed and the structure of the competition locked, which importantly must include how it will operate within the health and safety standards currently affecting the community.”

Nine’s newspapers reported on Thursday night the network wanted an extended deal with the NRL finalised before the specifics of the revamped 2020 campaign.

Channel Nine reporter Danny Weidler described the network’s latest comments as a ‘bombshell’.

Players association wary of restart date

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) also warned the return date could still change before the game's free-to-air broadcaster sounded its concerns.

RLPA chief Clint Newtown admitted he was surprised by Pearce's declaration, given he sits alongside him on the NRL's innovation committee.

While he has seen the draft biosecurity measures and is happy with them, Newton said the chief concern was how they would be implemented by the league and its clubs.

“We're going to keep working through it to get to those dates,” he said.

“We've got a level of responsibility that anyone who is associated with the Project Apollo that when we come out of those meetings is a true reflection on where we landed.

“There is no definite start date. They are dates we are working towards.

“The reality is there are a number of hurdles that we still need to get over before players can resume training and start playing again.”

Newton said the planned date for a return to training fell into the same category.

The RLPA wants further assurance on whether the usual medical support will be available for any player who gets injured.

The NRL has vowed to work with the RLPA on this.

Privately, some clubs have apprehensions about the May 4 training return.

They will receive draft biosecurity guidelines on Friday and would then have about a week to get their training bases ready.

“I think we still have to work towards (May 4),” Newton said.

“But I still think we have to have a level of humility to understand if we're not ready, that's OK, we just have to adjust the goalposts again.”

With Yahoo Sports Staff