Quote: Beverley red "Who cares if the NRL are reluctant, no other decent sport objects to their top players partaking in international competition in fact most welcome it. Throughout this pandemic major sports have struggled on, the Olympic Games are going ahead. The lions are in South Africa & we don’t here them or their clubs endlessly moaning , Union are quiet happy to have players missing through international duty (a lot more than league asks) . The NRL also don’t mind players stood down for origin games. It is just pure selfishness & total lack of interest in anything not Australian. People are correct saying it will be a farce without the NRL players but let’s put the blame where it belongs squarely in the arms of the NRL.'"
Using the Olympics as an example really isn't great when you could easily make the argument that the ioc are simply going ahead with it due to the financial fall out if they cancel it. There will be no fans at the Olympics, is that really a competition that should go ahead?
Origin is rep footy so yes players must be allowed to play but notice they didn't just go ahead and put an origin game in NSW did they? They played them all in queensland as it was safe to do so. Just as the NRL has moved to queensland.
I'm not convinced the NRL are doing this just for the sake of it. They have a competition which they can't afford to take unnecessary risks which may impact a season resulting in lost revenue from broadcasters.
The lions tour has seen games cancelled. Who's to say a test doesn't get cancelled?
Is the lions tour