Sky Sports Channel Logo

Rugby League News

News

  • News
  • Teams
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • Tables
  • Video
  • Pundits
  • Competitions
  • On Sky
  • Sky Bet

Blake Solly: Short-term NRL moves for Super League stars unlikely

Solly: "Given the contract regulations and the financial implications of bringing in a guest like that, it would seem like it's a nice news story but not grounded in reality"

By Marc Bazeley

Last Updated: 16/04/20 1:15pm

Sonny Bill Williams is one of the Super League players who has been linked with a short-term NRL move
Sonny Bill Williams is one of the Super League players who has been linked with a short-term NRL move

Blake Solly has played down rumours NRL sides will make moves to bring in Super League stars on a short-term basis when the season eventually resumes.

Australia's top domestic competition has already pencilled in May 28 as a possible date for the season to resume, with reports suggesting clubs would target players from teams in Super League on short-term deals while the competition remains suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sonny Bill Williams, Jackson Hastings and Blake Austin were among those linked with a temporary move, as was Australian rugby union star Quade Cooper. But, speaking to the Golden Point podcast, South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Solly underlined why he believes such moves are unlikely.

"I don't want to burst anyone's balloon, but I don't think it's realistic," Solly told Sky Sports. "Most clubs have filled out their squad of 30 or got 29 players.

"If you think every one of those players is going to be fit and ready to play at the end of May, given the break we've had, it's hard to see how you'd fit another player in at the expense of someone contracted.

"On top of the squads of 30, each player has between three and six development players you'd call into the squad, so given the contract regulations and the financial implications of bringing in a guest like that, it would seem like it's a nice news story but not grounded in reality."

The NRL came in for criticism from some quarters, including the AFL, although the country's premier Australian Rules football competition are reported to be planning to resume their season, which began behind closed doors, in June or July.

Given the contract regulations and the financial implications of bringing in a guest like that, it would seem like it's a nice news story but not grounded in reality

Blake Solly

The situation surrounding the situation New Zealand Warriors, who would have to undergo a two-week quarantine period on arriving in Australia, is complicating matters as well.

However, Solly praised Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys for being ambitious in his hopes of getting the 2020 campaign restarted, with fall-back dates in the pipeline as well.

"I don't think there is any downside in a provisional date," Solly said.

"What Peter was saying last week in his call with the clubs was May 28 is the most ambitious date and the earliest date we could be ready, given some of the complications with New Zealand Warriors entering the country and giving everyone time for a four-week pre-season before we got up and running again.

 ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys

"We had fall-back position for June 4 and 11, but anyone who knows Peter knows he's got a can-do attitude, he's aspirational and ambitious.

"His view was if we set the date of May 28 and it didn't come off and we were starting on June 4 or 11, the player would have had a great pre-season, the government would be even more supportive than they are now, so there was nothing to be lost by setting that ambitious date."

Former Super League general manager Solly is adamant there will be no return to playing without the Australian government's backing however, with the priority being the health and safety of the players and staff.

The other issue to be ironed out is what the season will look like when the NRL finally gets underway again, not to mention where the State of Origin series will sit in the revamped calendar.

"That's one of the most controversial things at the moment," Solly said. "Discussions with the broadcasters are taking place and will do throughout the week.

Also See:

  • NRL talking points
  • Philbin: I would play three games in a week
  • Rugby League on Sky
  • Follow us @SkySportsRL

"I think everyone's preference is to play as long a season as we possibly could, starting in May and trying to get the 23 rounds we have left played.

"But I think people are realistic about how we'll do that and if we have to shorten the season hopefully it won't be by too much, with the view to having a Grand Final at the end of October or November if we have to."

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre LIVE! Has late paperwork scuppered Ziyech move to PSG?
  • 2
    Winners and losers: Chelsea flex financial muscles, Liverpool problems unsolved
  • 3
    Chelsea sign Fernandez in £106.8m British-record deal from Benfica
  • 4
    How much has your PL club spent?
  • 5
    Man Utd sign Sabitzer on loan from Bayern
  • 6
    Premier League January transfers: Club by club
  • 7
    £323m splashed in January: How Chelsea avoid FFP sanctions
  • 8
    Do Arsenal now have enough depth to win the title?
  • 9
    Papers: Man City considering summer swoop for Maddison
  • 10
    How Sabitzer can help Man Utd
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK