NATIONAL Rugby League powerbrokers are walking a very fine line between a public relations disaster and public relations triumph as they work towards a goal of restarting the competition on May 28.
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The NRL is seeking to become one of the first professional sports in the world to make it back on the field following the coronavirus shutdowns, and there could be some rich rewards if they can make it happen.
The AFL concedes it will be several months yet before its competition resumes while all major sporting codes overseas remain in lockdown.
If the NRL is back on the field before the end of May it will have a virtual monopoly on live sporting action in Australia, and also has the opportunity to get rugby league in front of millions of potential new fans overseas who will also be craving live sport of any sort. But at what cost?
Reports coming out of League Central suggest the NRL has been haemorrhaging money in recent years, with little left to show for a series of lucrative broadcast deals.
According to the reports, the NRL cannot afford to be off the field any longer than absolutely necessary because it needs its broadcast partners to keep making their monthly payments. And the broadcasters will only do that if they have some rugby league to broadcast.
But in its haste to get rugby league up and running again to ease its short-term pain, the NRL risks long-term damage.
First, there is the air of desperation surrounding the current decision-making. While other sports administrators patiently cool their heels despite the hit to their businesses' bottom line, NRL powerbrokers are going at breakneck speed to resume the competition.
Then there is the question over whether health concerns are being given the attention they demand.
When the pandemic expert advising the NRL recommended the competition be shut down, powerbrokers followed that advice - then found a new expert.
And, finally, while the rush to get the NRL back on the field ahead of other professional sports might win the game some new fans, it might also lose it many fans who don't like to see rugby league seemingly being given favoured treatment over the many thousands of Australian businesses that are still months away from reopening their doors.
The potential rewards of an early NRL restart are many, but so too are the risks.