Condensing Super League season is possible, says Kristian Woolf

Drew Darbyshire 05 May 2020 10:27 AM

St Helens coach Kristian Woolf believes playing the rest of the Super League season in a condensed period is doable – but insists player welfare must be taken into consideration.

All levels of rugby league in the UK has been suspended since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Woolf believes the rest of the campaign can be fulfilled – but player welfare must be a high priority for the powers that be.

He said: “I think if we’re talking about playing three games in nine or 10 days, then it’s certainly doable.

“And if we’re only asked to do that a couple of times through the season – whatever the season looks like – then I think it is doable.

“It just means that us as coaches and players, we are going to have to accept that at different times players won’t play all three games in that period.

“If you are talking about three games in a seven-day period, then I think that becomes unrealistic and that’s when we put players under more risk than what they currently take.

“The reason it’s a welfare issue is because if players aren’t given adequate time for rehab and recovery for injuries they play with then the fatigue factor would certainly put the players at a physical risk.”

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