Re: Leigh game postponed - Covid : Wed Jul 21, 2021 4:57 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Warrington have announced this week they have 12 healthy first team players in training. So you only need 5 academy players to make a squad. Saints will be the same, although possibly the nature of cup win celebrations meant the whole squad had to isolate. But if that's the case, it should be given as a walkover as we haven't taken the protocols seriously enough.

Can you clarify what the protocols say about mixing of first team and academy squads?

I thought they weren't allowed to mix for the obvious reason of increased potential for spread of the virus outside of the playing group. You obviously know better as you've spent the last week suggesting Warrington could have used their academy players to make up the shortfall outside of the 25 Super League squad.

Do please enlighten us.

Re: Leigh game postponed - Covid : Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:48 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

Can you clarify what the protocols say about mixing of first team and academy squads?

I thought they weren't allowed to mix for the obvious reason of increased potential for spread of the virus outside of the playing group. You obviously know better as you've spent the last week suggesting Warrington could have used their academy players to make up the shortfall outside of the 25 Super League squad.

Do please enlighten us.

There can't be any regulations around that as Castleford fielded a mixed squad with about 10 academy players against Salford before the cup final, including five debutants.

There may well be times where clubs literally cannot get 17 eligible players onto the field for a game, I'll add that in as you seem very insistent on that. But it's very clear that clubs are reaching for the 7 player limit at times so they don't have to play. Look at Liam Watts tweets recently where he says they need to stop testing players who aren't ill or identified as close contacts as it gives clubs an excuse to postpone games. That's a current SL player saying 'lets stop giving the clubs an excuse to postpone games'.

Whatever the actual truth is behind each postponement, the competition needs to be stronger on it and get these games played where possible. There was a journalist on twitter who said there are likely to be 24 postponed games still unplayed in two weeks time, with only 6 weeks to go. That's not a good look for a sport that was already hemorrhaging sponsorship, TV revenue and gate receipts. Super League making a warning statement that they're able to fine clubs and deduct points over covid postponements is also an indicator that they suspect rules are being abused.

Re: Leigh game postponed - Covid : Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:57 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Are you happy that Warrington are postponing games at the moment? You've got 9 players who've tested positive or been identified by track and trace. But with 9 out of the first team 25, are you really suggesting you couldn't beat Leigh? Your academy could probably run Leigh pretty close on their own. With 10 or so regular first team players you'd win comfortably and give a few lads a good run out.

Why call it off just because you can under the rules? Last season there was very little disruption and players and clubs seemed to understand the need to complete the competition. Now it seems like no one cares and just want to do as little as they can. Each game that gets called off is chipping away at the reputation of the competition and must be making Sky think twice about bothering at anything like the level they do.

And Saints are not playing this week because?

Re: Leigh game postponed - Covid : Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:17 pm  

stpatricks wrote:

And Saints are not playing this week because?

They’re happy to have a rest after the challenge cup final and subsequent pee up…..sorry, I mean they have some Covid issues. We might not see Cas again this season going off their record this season and the end of last season. It was a minor miracle all their issues with Covid cleared up for Challenge Cup Final week but alas, they’re back now.

Re: Leigh game postponed - Covid : Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:21 pm  

stpatricks wrote:

And Saints are not playing this week because?

Just because they can under the rules, apparently.