New challenges already emerging for Ralph Rimmer to tackle

At a time when all sports – indeed all businesses, all people – are clamouring for every penny they can muster to help them through the debilitating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it truly was a masterstroke.

Rimmer and his team, aided by various supportive MPs, worked tirelessly to build a compelling case for such financial aid.

With the Government having made it part of their election mandate to help deliver a successful Rugby League World Cup in 2021, he will have known they had a strong argument but to see it through was impressive.

The money is clearly a crucial lifeline and will aid so many clubs – and, no doubt, the governing body itself – in the months ahead.

Moreover, there seems to be a growing belief from many in Super League – who made such a controversial break from the RFL just two years ago to go it alone – that perhaps the two bodies should unite again.

Rimmer could be forgiven for uttering the words: ‘I told you so...’

However, at the same time, he will be aware a week is a long time not just in politics but rugby league as well.

Already there is another sizeable task lying in front of him and it could be more problematic than anything yet: promotion and relegation.

It has been no surprise that there have been calls from various people involved in Super League that there should be no relegation in 2020 due to the unusual circumstances under which the competition currently finds itself.

When it all starts up again, the fixture list could look very different to how it was originally planned and – with so much uncertainty about whether Catalans and Toronto will even be able to travel – it is easy to see why the integrity of Super League could be compromised.

That said, others would argue any format that involves loop fixtures and Magic Weekend is already open to accusations of inequality.

Nevertheless, those in favour of disbanding relegation have a powerful argument given the unprecedented chaos Covid-19 has brought.

Still, it will probably fall on deaf ears for those in the Championship – and League 1 – striving to earn promotion.

The likes of Toulouse Olympique, London Broncos and Leigh Centurions to name three have invested heavily in their bid to reach or return to the elite.

If it is decided there should be no promotion or relegation – and one is almost certainly not going to happen without the other as no-one can envisage Super League being increased to 13 clubs in 2021 – they could rightly contest what is the point of continuing the season when it does resume?

Furthermore, if it does start up behind closed doors, as is expected, it is hard to envisage how many Championship clubs will even be able to make any money.

Although they will make use of that £16m, it only spreads so far.

Many clubs will simply be intent on surviving into 2021 but undoubtedly all of this will be a minefield which will involve some careful negotiating by Rimmer in the weeks ahead.

He has proven already his ability to do that but this offers new challenges. Clubs want a definitive answer before play resumes.

Rimmer can only hope a sensible conclusion can be reached without too much disharmony.