Leeds Rhinos willing to play behind closed doors - but it's not a 'satisfactory solution'

But he admits it may become necessary if the sport is to meet its broadcast commitments during the coronavirus crisis. Rugby league at all levels has been suspended since March 16, just seven rounds into the Betfred Super League campaign. Five weekends of Super League have been lost since then, plus one round of the Coral Challenge Cup. Leeds, who were due to play host to Salford Red Devils tomorrow, had two games in hand before the shutdown and are facing a backlog of 24 league matches, plus at least one Cup tie, if a full season is completed. Super League’s Magic Weekend, scheduled for May 23 and 24 at Newcastle, has been “postponed”, but the competition’s chief executive Robert Elstone insists it could still be held later in the year - which suggests there is no desire to cut the number of matches. Former Rhinos forward and now Sky TV pundit Barrie McDermott this week predicted Super League and the RFL will wait to see what football - and in particular the FA Premiership - does before confirming their plans. Nothing has been finalised, but there is mounting speculation the round ball game could resume in June, with matches played behind closed doors. Rhinos’ game at Catalans Dragons on March 14 was set to go ahead without a crowd, but was postponed after Leeds declined to travel. At the time, Catalans estimated the lock-out could cost them around £150,000. Behind closed doors fixtures would enable Super League to meet the terms of its contract with Sky and increase the chances of a full season being played, but clubs already in financial hardship would be deprived of vital matchday income. One suggestion is for Sky to televise two games per week as normal, with the rest being made available to supporters on a pay-per-view basis, which would generate some income for clubs. The governing bodies are also considering double-headers as a way of cutting down matchday costs and Hetherington said: “If it [playing behind closed doors] is a necessity to service our contractual commitments, then that has got to be factored in.” But he pointed out: “Unlike for example the NRL, who are almost entirely dependent on their broadcast income, we in the UK are very dependent on our matchday income. “Playing behind closed doors doesn’t generate any matchday income at all, so clearly that is not a satisfactory solution to our problems.” The Leeds chief added: “Having said that, if it means delivering to our broadcast partners and putting the game back in front of a television audience, we have got to be prepared to do that if need be. “These are unprecedented times and we have no experience to fall back on. Clearly it is desperate times for everybody in the game, the players who are sat at home unable to train properly and all the fans who are desperately missing the game. “We share with our members and fans the frustration of not being able to go to games. That is part of the frustration of being in lockdown.” The dilemma facing Super League and the RFL has been complicated by the situation in France where the government has announced there will be no sports events before September. Catalans have 11 home league fixtures still to play, including the rearranged meeting with Rhinos and Leeds’ ‘loop’ game in France, which was due to be staged in Toulouse at the end of May. Toulouse Olympique had won all their five league games before the shutdown and are top of the Betfred Championship. A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper. Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes- from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead. For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email subscriptions@jpimedia.co.uk or call us on 0330 4033004 Thank you Laura Collins Editor READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777