The majority of of the country has felt the effects of this pandemic (despite some quacks on here likening it to a bout of flu that'll be sorted out by Dettol) from both a health and economic perspective.
The reason that it is likened to flu is because it's symptoms are indeed flu-like.
(And yes, before you ask, I've had it and spent a week in hospital with its effects).
There doesn't seem to be much excitement or interest in the competition restarting.
Usually there would have been loads of threads on here talking about our chances, strongest starting line up, should we keep Price or get rid of him, how do we fit Ratchford and Widdop into the team. It all feels a bit "meh, there's gonna be some RL on TV, it's not a proper competition this year, even if we win it will be an anticlimax".
I get that they probably need to put RL out there to try and fulfil obligations to the broadcasters but if there are increased risks to the players, we have to ask is it really worth it?
Also taking the approach that some people seem to want, of saying to the players, suck it up and take a pay cut we don't care if you're annoyed, doesn't seem the best way to assemble a team of super-motivated players, with relentless mindsets focused on winning the Grand Final for Wire. Players might get forced to be out there but when we're 24-6 down at home to Salford, no fans in the stadium giving them stick, they're already disgruntled at how they've been treated, I wonder how many of them are going to think OK lads its do or die for the season now, lets put bodies on the line to turn this round, or will they think feck this lets just get through the game and go home. It puts Price and the coaching staff in an impossible position, if the players feel they have been shafted, whether you think the players are justified in thinking that or not.
In other sports players' unions have done hold outs and refused to turn out en masse and if they are being screwed about this is something they should think about here. It looks like it's going to be a devalued season with disinterested supporters anyway.
Also taking the approach that some people seem to want, of saying to the players, suck it up and take a pay cut we don't care if you're annoyed, doesn't seem the best way to assemble a team of super-motivated players, with relentless mindsets focused on winning the Grand Final for Wire.
To be fair that isn't happening, everyone is playing their part, fans of the club have already said they don't want refunds where they have the means to do so, owners of the club have combined with a cash injection of +£1m when their own businesses are suffering and the players (already) and in to the future have agreed to reduced salaries. It's just the finer details of when / how that full pay kicks in that is in discussion. I hope there is no ill feeling currently and I don't expect there will be. It's a difficult situation, the club doesn't know when it's income streams will be switched back on in terms of numbers through the gate, and presumably what those numbers would look like at that point. This could also all go pear shaped very quickly if a second wave came along, lots of things for each party to think through - these things take time.
To me that's all three elements coming together, in which case the club will be united.
As Alffi pointed out, I think most people realise they need to pull together in order to get the truck out of the mud and back on the road again. I suspect the players meeting with the chairmen /RFL will end in some form of compromise, hopefully one where the lower earners with perhaps less leverage are protected. And yes, all the noises I have heard from fans has suggested people will forgo their ST investments to do their bit as well.
But I don't think there is any option now other than to gradually reopen to 'normal' life. I seem to remember reading that we have now borrowed £190 billion with Sunak spraying money at anything that doesn't move. In a year or two we will be faced with eye watering taxes and big cuts to government spending. So even if a second wave does come along it will probably have to happen whilst the economy struggles on whilst we minimise the spread of infection.
Will the RL restart be a bit of a damp squid ? Unfortunately I suspect it might. Some fans will be wary about returning to live matches just as some people are reluctant to go back to restaurants. And the season will surely be damaged by the interruption. I can't explain why, but I just feel less interested in the season. Perhaps it's because we have had a gentle reminder that to contradict Bill Shankley, there are more important things than sport. Hopefully the momentum will change as the game gets under way again and interest / crowds will gradually return to normal.
The reason that it is likened to flu is because it's symptoms are indeed flu-like.
(And yes, before you ask, I've had it and spent a week in hospital with its effects).
Its effects are so wide extremist, you cannot compare it to flu. Leave that to Trump. I’ve had a friend die from it, another brought back from deaths door, and others thought it was hey fever...!
Its effects are so wide extremist, you cannot compare it to flu. Leave that to Trump. I’ve had a friend die from it, another brought back from deaths door, and others thought it was hey fever...!
I wasn't belittling it's danger, I was merely pointing out its similarities to flu when taking into account it's basic symptoms.
I've also had family die from flu in the past, so let's not dismiss that as a minor illness, while we will also now experience huge excess cancer deaths because of our reaction to this pandemic.
One thing is certain. We need to return to a normal life and out of this frightened-to-death lockdown society that we have been programmed into. Only that will save a society worth living in, including being able to watch live RL and other sports.
There doesn't seem to be much excitement or interest in the competition restarting.
Usually there would have been loads of threads on here talking about our chances, strongest starting line up, should we keep Price or get rid of him, how do we fit Ratchford and Widdop into the team. It all feels a bit "meh, there's gonna be some RL on TV, it's not a proper competition this year, even if we win it will be an anticlimax".
I get that they probably need to put RL out there to try and fulfil obligations to the broadcasters but if there are increased risks to the players, we have to ask is it really worth it?
Also taking the approach that some people seem to want, of saying to the players, suck it up and take a pay cut we don't care if you're annoyed, doesn't seem the best way to assemble a team of super-motivated players, with relentless mindsets focused on winning the Grand Final for Wire. Players might get forced to be out there but when we're 24-6 down at home to Salford, no fans in the stadium giving them stick, they're already disgruntled at how they've been treated, I wonder how many of them are going to think OK lads its do or die for the season now, lets put bodies on the line to turn this round, or will they think feck this lets just get through the game and go home. It puts Price and the coaching staff in an impossible position, if the players feel they have been shafted, whether you think the players are justified in thinking that or not.
In other sports players' unions have done hold outs and refused to turn out en masse and if they are being screwed about this is something they should think about here. It looks like it's going to be a devalued season with disinterested supporters anyway.
I'm pretty excited at the prospect of a return, but I never count chickens ( chlorinated or otherwise ). I'll start to talk about team selection when we actually have a confirmed opponent, date and venue.
Have the Wire agreed a pay deal with the players ?
Nearly, the salary cap commissioner is in danger of finding a couple of our “loopholes” so we were going to pay them in loo rolls, unfortunately the bottom fell out of that market..
League Express has a quote from KF confirming an agreement with the players has been reached for salary cuts. I guess they start training Monday morning? 3 week lead in.