Fletcher-end-red wrote:
How many athletes suffer to that extent though? Most don't even know they've had it, added to those that are isolating as they're a close contact.
I'm not disputing the devastating effects it can have, mainly on the elderly. I almost lost a close family member last year so I know all to well the damage it can cause.
RL players will be more susceptible to small margins that affect their lung capacity and general cardio fitness, than the general population. It's like the average non athlete with a desk job could have a hamstring strain and be back at work the next day whereas for a RL player that might be multiple weeks out.
In the NFL last year there were a number of players who had covid, just missed a game or two and then came back, but were significantly below par for the rest of the season: Cam Newton, Miles Garrett had a noticeable difference in the before/after covid, Zeke Elliot had covid in the off season and had an unusual down year. Ryquelle Armstead had covid before the season and was hospitalised twice, he ended up missing the full season and was cut. He got picked up by another team who released him a few weeks later, so who knows if his career is done at age 24.
If you were a Super League conditioner and charged with putting out a team that can run hard for 80 minutes, then you wouldn't want to expose the players to a disease that can lead to damaged lungs.