Group Nine chairman Peter McDermott has not been filled with confidence the season will start on July 18 following government changes to coronavirus restrictions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The National Cabinet released a three-step road map for relaxing restrictions put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, but each state and territory will decide when they're introduced.
Step one allows for outdoor sport, up to 10 people, consistent with the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport.
The second stage has a maximum of 20, while the final step allows for community sport to be considered, again in line with the AIS.
That final step also allows all venues to operate with gatherings up to 100 people.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison believes stage three would not be enacted until July leaving McDermott concerned over the timeframe.
"I thought that might have been enough to say this is all too hard," McDermott said.
"If we are looking at 100 on the third one, and then two or three weeks to improve that, you would be into the end of July by my calculations. Who knows? And that is the problem and the magical question I wish someone had the answers so we could know whether to go forward or if we don't."
Group Nine also haven't decided on a grand final date despite NSW Rugby League posting on for September 26 or 27 on their website.
Clubs will be given the final say and are yet to meet with the Group Nine board.
McDermott was waiting on more information before gathering but indicated a change of approach could be in store
"We might have to bump something forward just to have a chat to them (clubs) to see if they want to start trying to organise something under the assumption it is all going ahead," he said.
"They were dead against it before but that was when it first broke and it was all a bit panicky back then and things were changing daily.
"If they want to ahead with stuff that is fine by us and we can put things in place."
Playing a full round of nine games plus finals seems to be the preferred option but the placement of the grand final is unclear as the traditional top five format requires it to be pushed back into October.
READ MORE