ADRIAN Lam admits he has thought what many in rugby league are thinking – can Covid-19 force Super League to be cancelled?
Catalans Dragons’ positive coronavirus tests have been got around this week by switching them for Castleford in the fixture list.
Hull FC’s results saw one fixture delayed and another rejigged but the further the top flight goes on, the fewer chances there will be for a similar move to happen.
And Wigan boss Lam, whose fixture on Saturday has changed, admits the thought of the 2020 season not being completed has crossed his mind.
He said: “I thought about that when I heard about Catalans to be honest.
“There was a bit of fear that crept around that if this got around to another couple of clubs whether the competition could be postponed or cancelled altogether. There is a bit of fear there.
“It’s difficult to think we’re going to get through the whole year without having one person with Covid-19 at every club.
“If we can get through the year without that, it would be an unbelievable achievement but realistically it’s going to effect every club at some stage.
“The concern would be if you miss too many games, you’ll have to make them up in a short time. A bit of luck will play its part in this.”
Hull FC are back on the pitch this weekend after 12 of their members tested positive for Covid-19 in the first outbreak.
And boss Andy Last admitted pal Steve McNamara – who is Catalans coach – had a spooky premonition while hoping the sport can come through.
He said: “Steve was one of the coaches that reached out to me and I really appreciated it.
“He basically said, ‘Look it’s a global pandemic, it’s just unfortunate that you’re the first Super League team to suffer from an outbreak of Covid.’
“Strangely he said he didn’t think we’d be the last and I’d like to hope that the game can adapt and work its way around it.
“It’s a scary situation but one that I hope the game can keep at bay long enough to be able to fulfil fixtures.”
Catalans’ results have put their first match in France against Leeds on September 7 under the spotlight.
And Rhinos boss Richard Agar admitted there has to be talk of canning the whole campaign.
He said: “I think it’s in the conversation, isn’t it?
“There’s always a nervousness when you get news like this that if we continue to get impacted it’s going to leave a logjam of fixtures.
“It’s a concern. It’s just a real difficult one. Even if you’ve been unbelievably careful, you’ve still got a chance of picking something up.
“It’s going to test the competition, that’s for sure – if it continues.”