The 18th Man column: 'This season may be written off altogether'

When do you think the season will restart, when will it run to and what will be sacrificed?

Alex Graham: I think it’s impossible to say when the season will start, if it ever does. It feels surreal that sport has the same expectations and rules to abide by as any other industry and ultimately the government is slowly setting precedents on behalf of all sectors within the country. Personally I think we’re still many weeks if not months away from reaching a peak of this epidemic.

Firstly, I think it’s obvious we’re going to sacrifice Super League fixtures.

As time goes on we may have to condense play-off fixtures, then even competitions and events such as the Challenge Cup and forthcoming Ashes series, which will naturally cost sponsorship and ticket revenues. Like all other industries it’s simply too difficult to predict.

Robert Kenyon: Based on what’s happening around the world, this problem won’t go away in a short space of time. Unless they are going to play behind closed doors I can’t see the season resuming until July/August, now if Sky want to dip their hands in their pockets and pay for any lost revenue and play behind closed doors in May, then that might work.

Jon Lyon: How long is a piece of string? With the situation changing by the hour, it’s very hard to say.

I would hope if people are finally sensible and adhere to the lockdown then we may be over the worst in three months or so.

Whether that means we can restart the season at all, behind closed doors or fully, I don’t know.

Jess Foxley: It is very uncertain times, I can honestly say I have no idea when the season will restart. Sooner rather than later I hope, but I can’t see it.

If anything is going to change it’s going to have to be the Challenge Cup, there is no way on this planet we could fit the postponed league games AND numerous cup games in.

It’s a shame because the Challenge Cup is one of our main competitions. But I just can’t see how it will fit. I would expect the Challenge Cup to be sacrificed as we surely can’t fit the rounds in by mid-July and moving the final is more trouble than it’s worth.

I also expect the loop fixtures to be cancelled and we just play each team twice until the season is over, running into November if necessary, with the international fixtures cancelled.

Darren Wrudd: Honestly, I think this season may be written off all together.

The pandemic is threatening our way of life in many ways and, as long as people fail to heed the warnings with an ‘I’m all right’ attitude, it will just get worse.

Short-term measures around Europe and America are looking more like long-term solutions to control the spread and so, as dear as it is to my heart, it’s only sport.

At the very best, there may well be a range of games played late in the season, but it will be largely meaningless beyond bragging rights.

We could not overrun much if at all anyway, or it would push next year’s games out of sync and the knock-on could last for years.

Jeanette Lusher: The future looks bleak with regards to life getting back to normal on the sporting front.

I fear the regular season will be wiped out completely along with the Challenge Cup.

The only glimmer of hope may be the Ashes series but again I hold out little hope as both countries will have enough to deal with on the domestic front.

How concerned are you about the impact this will have on the game here?

Alex Graham: It’s particularly concerning because we don’t know the in-depth financial in and out-goings of each club.

Most clubs without the fortune of a millionaire owner will undoubtedly live week-to-week with weekly ticket revenue, catering and club shop sales being imperative to meeting monthly financial outgoings.

I’ve no doubt this will also be affecting club sponsors also, who may see future sponsorship as an unnecessary necessity as they too look to claw back lost revenues. It’s all very concerning and I hope individual clubs, the sports, broadcasters and key sponsors are all working together to provide some form or plan and contingency.

Robert Kenyon: Very concerned, rugby league clubs are run on meagre budgets. With the season being suspended and clubs not getting revenue from fans there could be some going to the wall.

We as a sport need to deal with whatever changes come our way otherwise we won’t survive, it’s that simple. Forget other sports, we need to think outside of the box as to how we can survive as a sport and maintain the competition.

Jon Lyon: We’re in a fortunate position at Wigan with, I suspect, the vast majority of our supporters having season tickets that have been paid for in advance.

There are many clubs who are not so lucky and, without hefty assistance from the RFL, it would be a big surprise if a few don’t go under. Many clubs are going to need players to take pay cuts for a while, which is a big ask as most aren’t on anywhere near a wage where they can afford not to be paid.

The good news is that as a whole the rugby league community is one of the most selfless in world sport.

As we have seen with the fund raising for Rob Burrow, Mose Masoe and the Steve Prescott Foundation, where possible the fans will always rally round our sport. Obviously the fans are doing it tough at the moment as well as the clubs, but I have no doubt that, where they can, supporters will do their utmost to ensure clubs can find a way to get through this unprecedented period.

Jess Foxley: I am hugely concerned. It’s a scary time for all sports on and off the field.., it could seriously mark the end of some clubs in lower divisions and at grassroots.

Whereas the bigger clubs could be at a gigantic loss but just about manage to stay afloat.

Then, who knows what it will be like when the season restarts? Will the boys be match fit? Will having such a big break affect the form book?

On another note, I’m sure when things are back to normal, crowds will be on the up. It’s a big loss for the country and people will realise just how much sport fills a void.

Darren Wrudd: The biggest effect is going to be financial as our game is seriously lacking in excess cash.

Too many clubs are sailing so close to the wind that there may well be many who falter and possibly are lost altogether.

The fans will be ready to come back when they are called to arms, but I hope that those of us who can afford it don’t demand refunds from our clubs for games lost on season tickets.

It is going to be difficult enough without the added burden of that, and once the money is spent, it’s spent! So it’s not like you will miss it. If our game is to survive, it will need our support now more than ever.

Jeanette Lusher: I truly fear for the survival of our game on a professional footing. The loss of revenue must be catastrophic.

The financial impact on owners, players and staff must be immense.

This could well see the demise of many lower-league clubs and that would be heartbreaking after many years of strife and effort from people who devote so much to the sport.

At the very least we shall certainly need financial support from the government to sustain any facet of the sport of rugby league.

With no sport, how are you filling the void?

Alex Graham: Although I have blown the dust off my Playstation, I’ve also been doing quite a lot of walking with my dog and been going on random local walks where it’s deemed safe to do so, but the saying is correct – you don’t know what you had until you lost it.

This period has made me aware how embedded rugby league is within my lifestyle, routine and every day talking points. It puts the criticisms we have towards the sport into perspective.

Hopefully, this period will be a kick up the backside for too many Wiganers who take our club and sport for granted and force them to understand the importance of attending fixtures and becoming generally more active within the sport opposed to sat in front of the TV for 80 minutes on a Friday night. It could quite easily be gone tomorrow.

Robert Kenyon: I’ve been watching old games on Wigan TV and doing some gardening, that’s about all you can do at the minute.

I’ve been teaching my toddler how to play rugby, he walks around all day with his rugby ball either throwing it or kicking it.

It’s early days and it’s not been long enough to start missing it that much as we had the NRL to watch on the weekend, I think it will hit home this weekend though.

Jon Lyon: Fortunately I have a hefty back catalogue of Wigan, NRL and international DVDs which are filling the huge void.

I’m definitely missing the matchday experience.

Going to the game every week with my dad is something we’ve done together for the last 36 years, and the lockdown means I can’t even go round to his house and watch a match on DVD with him.

Health and safety comes first but I can’t wait for the day I can walk into the DW again, something I’ve taken for granted up til now.

Jess Foxley: So, I actually have no idea how I’m going to spend my weekends now, unfortunately, due to the current situation we find ourselves in, I no longer have a job so I’m completely lost. Even more so without rugby and my beloved Wigan.

To many, it’s just a game but to me, it’s a way of life. It’s something that over the years has got me through difficult times.

I thoroughly enjoy travelling round to watch the boys, meeting new people and just watching some great rugby. It will be difficult, and I will miss it, but it’s absolutely for the best and we are all in the same boat!

Fingers crossed we are back to normality very soon.

Darren Wrudd: This will certainly be a leveller for many whose lives are ruled by sports, but beyond the Dakar races in January, rugby league is the only other sport I watch.

Clearly you don’t have an inkling as to how busy my life is already.

I miss the games, whether on TV or live but it hasn’t had any great effect over my day to day life.

But to everyone reading this, please stay safe, keep well and I look forward to chatting more when this all calms down.

Jeanette Lusher: My life revolves around rugby league!

I gather with my rugby family to attend formal occasions and events.

We share quality informal times together – meals, barbecues, fund raising, family occasions and much more.

I volunteer and assist with matchday, Riversiders and Junior Riversiders.

I am on select committees and groups.

I write in response to your paper.

Only now do I realise how much of my time I devote to rugby league and how much joy it brings in return.

I am filling the void with helping neighbours and friends at this unprecedented time.

I do chores around the house and garden.

I walk the dogs for my daughter. I maintain contact with family and friends. I read and I have Wigan TV!