Rugby league will follow football’s lead out of shutdown says Sky TV pundit Barrie McDermott

There has been no rugby league played at any level in this country since Sunday, March 15 and training was halted the following week.

Professional football is also on hold, but mounting speculation suggests the FA Premier League could resume in early June, with matches initially played behind closed doors.

The Rugby Football League and Super League have yet to make an announcement on how and when the sport will resume, but insist all options are being considered.

With social distancing measures likely to remain in place, even if some lockdown restrictions are lifted, there is a growing acceptance that playing games without a crowd may be the way forward for Super League.

McDermott admitted he can see positives and negatives to that solution, but believes what football does next is likely to dictate rugby league’s approach.

“We have got to be realistic and understand it is about the football, really,” said McDermott, who was a Grand Final winner with Leeds Rhinos in 2004.

“As soon as football cuts through the red tape and the Premiership and everything beneath that gets back going, we can plan what we are going to do.”

McDermott accepted: “Even though we are a summer sport and we are seven or eight games into the season, we haven’t got the power and standing in the sporting world that football has.

“It is such a big, important part of most people’s lives, that will be the voice I think government listens to.”

Playing behind closed doors would enable clubs to meet the terms of Super League’s deal with Sky Sports, but also mean season ticket holders being locked out of games they have already paid for – and would cost teams dearly in lost matchday income.

“I am missing my rugby league like mad, it is such an integral part of people’s lives.” added McDermott.

“There’s an argument for and against. The argument against is people being in such close proximity, not only the players, but the fans and people around the game, so closed doors is an option.

“But the for is, it is a morale-booster.

“It brings a lot of joy to a lot of people and gives a rhythm to a lot of people’s week.

“Once it gets to Thursday or Friday or whenever your team is playing, you do look forward to that.

“I hope the people up top look at the for and against and make a decision that’s right for everybody, not just err on the side of caution because they don’t want people being so close together.”