I can see a number of clubs struggling to pay their players, with few spectators, as money will be tight. After the restrictions are lifted we could well have wall to wall sport for up to 18 months with all the major sports fighting for airtime and supporters. Some, like cricket, have no wiggle room at all but for the rest we could see lots of hybrid/Frankenstein seasons all overlapping.

If we resume this season, say in August, we could condense it slightly and finish by the end of January 2021. A 2-3 month break then for what would have been the 2021 season we need to think well outside the box. Something along the lines of a much reduced fixture list, playing other teams only once or perhaps a Lancashire v Yorkshire two group affair. Top team of each group going to the Grand a Final.

Or just start 7 weeks later and skip the loop fixturws

Yes and the Magic Weekend.
The Ashes series will in all probability not be played so we could use Old Trafford for the Challenge Cup Final and Tottenham for the Superleague Final.

Other way around

I wonder as a money spinner if we could try and get Lancashire vs Yorkshire going to replace that Ashes series. I know they’ve not really hit the spot in the past but if we had two games, say at Elland Road and Old Trafford and billed them as games to help raise funds to support clubs across the game, would we be able to get big crowds on. If the games then turn out to be a decent spectacle it could be the start of something more permanent.

The Aussies will look after themselves, as they always do, so I’d be looking at something different to playing the Kiwis again. I know I’d part with £20/30 per game if I knew that money was supporting clubs across the sport. The fact that guys like Bateman, Graham, Whitehead, Tom Burgess etc would potentially be available would only add to the quality of the sides and give the games a bit more interest. A lot will depend of time but if there is time to fit it in, I think it could be a decent opportunity.

That's a nice idea.

[quote="NickyKiss"]I wonder as a money spinner if we could try and get Lancashire vs Yorkshire going to replace that Ashes series. I know they’ve not really hit the spot in the past but if we had two games, say at Elland Road and Old Trafford and billed them as games to help raise funds to support clubs across the game, would we be able to get big crowds on. If the games then turn out to be a decent spectacle it could be the start of something more permanent.

The Aussies will look after themselves, as they always do, so I’d be looking at something different to playing the Kiwis again. I know I’d part with £20/30 per game if I knew that money was supporting clubs across the sport. The fact that guys like Bateman, Graham, Whitehead, Tom Burgess etc would potentially be available would only add to the quality of the sides and give the games a bit more interest. A lot will depend of time but if there is time to fit it in, I think it could be a decent opportunity.[/qu

Great idea about Lancs v Yorks. I am not convinced the nrl lads will be available as there season will also over run now but great idea and should sell both grounds out. people will be desperate for there rugby fix by then. and like you say it could lead to something more permanent.

There’s talk that the NRL will replace the Ashes with origin at the end of their season. If that’s the case then our lads should be available but either way I would love to see us use this time as a way of reintroducing our own Origin, if we cannot get the Ashes on.

One thing this pandemic is doing is giving people more of a sense of pride in their community and their country. If you put a bit of marketing effort in to a Lancs vs Yorks game then I think you’d easily get more than just rugby league people there.

I nominate Waney vs Daryl Powell as coaches also. Add an edge and have players on both sides trying to impress the national coach.

I think this season will be finished as soon as they can. Hetherington is already talking about binning welfare rules to play 3 times a week. Adding a meaningless set of “representative” matches may be a bit of a damp squib, the chairmen of the clubs won’t want to loose home revenue, so the clubs won’t reduce the number of matches, apart from dropping magic. I’m not sure the players will be in any state at the end of the season. Plus a lot of speccies are on reduced or no income at the moment, and 3 matches a week will draw on the financial commitment of the most dedicated fan.

If we can get a meaningful competition out of this season that should be the aim