Leeds Rhinos boss Kevin Sinfield calls for Super League fixture contingency plan

Coronavirus outbreaks at five clubs have led to a raft of matches being postponed or rearranged since Super League resumed on August 2.

Rhinos’ derby against Wakefield Trinity, scheduled for two days ago and Monday’s trip to Catalans Dragons were the latest to be called off, after players from Leeds’ opponents tested positive.

Sinfield admitted he now has “some concern” over whether all clubs will manage to complete the regular season this year.

He warned: “The schools have gone back and a lot of the players and staff have got kids, so that’s certainly a concern.

“Keeping everybody fit and healthy has to be paramount for the sport, but to have two games pulled shows how easily games are getting rubbed out of the calendar at the minute.

“Where you fit those games back in is going to be really tough.”

If outbreaks of Covid-19 continue, it seems inevitable a point will be reached where it is impossible to complete the scheduled 22 rounds, down from the original 29, by mid-November, in time for play-offs and a Grand Final on November 28.

Finishing positions could be decided on a points per game basis if not all clubs play the same number of fixtures, but Sinfield is in favour of awarding cancelled games to the team who were ready and able to play.

“I do think we need some form of model that incorporates games that can’t be fulfilled for whatever reason,” he said.

“Otherwise, the season is going to be extended for who knows how long.

“I think what’s really important is the 2021 Super League season isn’t impacted.

“There’s a World Cup at the end of that year and it’s obviously a big year for the whole sport, but in the short term we are trying to keep everybody fit and healthy and in jobs and keep the sport alive.

“It is a real balancing act. I do have some concerns, but I think if we have a model in place that allows unfulfilled games to be awarded on some sort of points system, like they’ve got in rugby union, I think that is probably the way forward.

“But we absolutely have to make sure we fulfil the broadcast deal as well, because that’s really important to the sport.

“Nobody has ever faced anything like this before and it is a real juggling act for the RFL, Super League and our chief executives.”

Players at three clubs have tested positive this week, taking the total number to five.

Hull and Catalans Dragons were the first clubs affected, then two Wakefield Trinity players returned positive results following last Sunday’s defeat by Warrington Wolves.

The Rugby Football League yesterday confirmed a Warrington player gave a positive result after testing on Thursday.

A St Helens player, who was not involved in their game against Hull KR last weekend, received a positive result from an NHS test on Thursday, after showing Covid-19 symptoms the previous day.

Leeds were keen to carry the momentum from last Saturday’s 50-12 win over Salford Red Devils into the Wakefield game and had planned to give some young players – including loan signing James Harrison and rookie Jarrod O’Connor – an opportunity at Catalans.

Sinfield said: “We’re disappointed we’ve no game this week – we have gone from having two, we thought, to none.

“We are on the back of a good win last week and we’ve worked really hard, especially since the Saints game. We’ve tweaked some things and there’s been an emphasis for some players on some additional stuff they need to do, on top of day to day things.

“They have really bought in and we saw a much-improved performance against Salford.

“Everyone’s trying to get some momentum and to have two games pulled is frustrating.”

Sinfield stressed: “I hope everyone who has been tracked and traced and everybody who’s had a positive test is fit and healthy and okay.

“I do understand all of it, but I’m just frustrated.”

Meanwhile, Rhinos’ ‘home’ Coral Challenge Cup quarter-final against Hull KR will be played at St Helens on Friday, September 18 (kick-off 8.15pm).

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