Lockdown could be needed after Hull FC coronavirus outbreak

Daryl Powell wearing a Castleford Tigers mask ahead of his side's defeat by Catalans Dragons at Headingley last week. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

Tigers will play hosts St Helens on Sunday, after originally expecting to face Hull.

That fixture was postponed when six Hull players and two staff tested positive for Covid-19 - the first cases at a British professional rugby league club.

While clubs follow strict guidelines at training and on matchdays to limit the risk of infection, there is nothing to prevent players or staff visiting cafes, bars or restaurants - which is banned for NRL players in Australia - outside of work.

Hull and Salford, who met at Headingley last Sunday, have both had their game this weekend postponed. Picture by SXpix.com.

Asked if he thinks that should be the case in Super League, Powell said: “I think it needs to be a consideration, whether they go as far as they have in Australia.

“I think there needs to be more guidance, definitely - what can and can’t we do.

“It is a little bit flimsy at the moment, the guidance.

“We would all benefit, I think, from knowing exactly what the governing body wants us to do.

“I think it would help and I am hopeful they will start to think about that in the next couple of weeks.”

Powell admitted stricter rules “puts pressure on everybody, you have to change your life a bit”, but insisted: “That’s just where we are with the world as it is at the minute.”

Hull’s opponents last week, Salford Red Devils, have had their game against Catalans on Sunday postponed and the French side will instead take on Wakefield Trinity - who had been due to play Saints - on Saturday.

Tigers are due to face Hull a week tomorrow in the Coral Challenge Cup sixth round, but Powell expects that to be called off.

The Tigers coach admitted two weeks without a game would have been “disastrous” and warned: “I do think this is probably going to be a sign of the times and the Rugby League are going to have to be flexible with what happens if Covid does strike somewhere.

“I think it has been a good outcome, getting games on - we need to get games on and we need to have rugby league out there.

“I understand the Sky viewing figures are massively high as a result of what’s going on and people wanting to watch the game, so hopefully it’s going to be good for the game moving forward, even though it’s a very difficult thing to manage at the moment.”

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Lockdown could be needed after Hull FC coronavirus outbreak - Castleford Tigers boss says