I really do get what you are saying, but I think the wider COVID issues are a separate point.

I know I keep banging on about it, but the NRL protocols are that strict it's almost like the NRL players are separate from the rest of Aus. They are that locked down into their own bubbles with monitoring, testing and clear guidance that they can travel easily across state lines, when others can't. I remember reading Canberra complaining about how tough they were doing it as they had to travel to another state, play and then travel straight home (massive total trip) and were refused permission to even book an overnight stay at a hotel. Now when you compare that to our M62 corridor it should be relatively simple.

For the sake of the game, jobs and clubs there really shouldn't have been anything other than the players being put into the tightest of lockdown imo. No trips out, no day drinking sessions, golf of whatever. Train, play, stay at home and repeat.

But they will be because they'll be the Super League Champions.

Perhaps we should have created another competition like they have in cricket?

I agree fully mate with us tightening things up but I’m not sure however tight we go that we’d be able to avoid any issues because of the mess which has been made by the government (that’s a bit political though and probably for another debate).

We need to be stricter as a game on what we expect from the players though, even if that just helps us keep cases down and not out of the game altogether. I’m wrestling with the issue of Covid discipline verses onfield discipline and feel the game is getting itself in such a poor spot. If we keep it Wigan based and look at two incidents and compare punishments it’s astonishing IMO. We had a player break the minimal Covid rules in place and get a suspended two week ban. We then have a player make what many would say is a legal tackle and he gets an actual two game ban. The onfield/off field examples don’t go hand in hand but it’s so frustrating. I would be throwing the book at any players guilty of breaching Covid rules. I would much rather the time and resource of RFL employees be spent coming up with some Covid rules and then debating extremely harsh punishments for breaching them than spending that time handing bans out for a guy lifting his body an inch off the floor for a split second whilst tackling.

As I say they don’t go hand in hand as such but the balance is all wrong at the minute.

I’m a cricket fan as well as Rugby League and I’d rather do what we’re doing. The Bob Willis trophy feels like a bunch of friendlies imo and whilst Superleague isn’t being played in its traditional form, it feels far more competitive and much closer to the norm.

I’ve found from a personal point of view the opposite while no player goes through the motions I don’t feel there’s the same intensity as normal season,on another note I’m fast losing interest in the sport,maybe it’s just a reaction to the whole Covid situation I don’t m ow but this season,since the restart hasn’t been the same

Who sponsors and televises this other competition? How do we find time to play the games without being able to count what we played pre-COVID? How do we afford to play it without the Sky TV money from Super League games? In fact would we owe Sky money for not fulfilling our contract to provide Super League games despite being in a position to play? Plus obviously fans would be rightly p*ssed off that they had paid to watch Super League games which we subsequently decide don't count.

You can't just hastily arrange another competition and assume that sponsors, broadcasters and fans would just all fall into line. Especially if the point would be that the other comp wouldn't be as prestigious as Super League.

I don't think Sky would care as long as they have some RL to show.

Like I say, I understand the need to play out the season (or some form of season) but whether you see them that way or not the winners of this percentage based, some played some didn't farce will be the SL Champions with the same recognition as we got in 2018

I think the proposals are fine, and sensible in the circumstances. And what NK said abut covid sanctions compared to the disciplinary. This year, it's all about just keeping the show on the road.

This. We have to be realistic, games will be postponed and some teams will be unable to fulfil all their fixtures. This allows us, almost makes it a certainty that we will be able to finish the season and someone will be crowned champions. That in itself will be an achievement.

how come clubs are cancelling fixtures? Did wire not have 6 missing the other day due to covid but fulfilled theirs?

With the number of players at each club and no reserve or academy leagues, I fail to see how any of the eleven clubs cannot complete the twenty games.