Newcastle Rugby League: Cessnock Goannas halfback Connor Kirkwood says 'I'd be happy to play for free'

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The Cessnock halfback, who featured in last year's decider, wants to see the season begin as soon as possible in 2020 even if that means his payments are cut.

The Newcastle RL campaign remains on hold because of the global coronavirus pandemic, but last week NSW Rugby League announced July 18 as a prospective start date.

However, if goverment restrictions around mass gatherings continue until kick off crowds could be banned, or at least limited. This reduces a club's chances of raising revenue and, in turn, impacts player payments.

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Potentially, a competition going ahead may come down to whether or not individuals are willing to play for free and 21-year-old Kirkwood would rather be out in the middle than sitting on the sidelines.

"I'd be happy to play for free," Kirkwood told the Newcastle Herald.

"I can't speak on behalf of all players and everyone has different situations. I'm young and I don't have a family to think about so I just want to play. I'd do it and I know a lot of other boys would play for free as well."

Kirkwood, a Goannas junior who lives at Branxton, said remuneration was more of a bonus than anything else.

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"At the end of the year, it's good to have a bit of extra money in the bank account," he said.

"But it's not what you're thinking about when you turn up to train and you turn up to play. You want to do your role, play well and win games."

Kirkwood said "I would do anything to play" and "get back out there" to "make the best out of a bad situation".

He understands others may take a different view with "a lot of people losing their jobs" during the COVID-19 crisis and admits it would be "tough to run a competition without paying players".

Central playmaker and former Rebels representative Brad Murray, who has previously won premierships at both Wests and Lakes, feels the 2020 season is "already written off" and Newcastle RL should try and "come back stronger next year".

"It's not as simple as blokes not getting paid, there's a lot more to it," Murray, who raised concerns about risks to employment outside footy, said.

He favoured reduced salary caps shared evenly among players rather than no payments.

Kurri Kurri pivot Jade Porter, who is four shy of reaching 200 first grade games, said he doubted a competition would proceed without crowds because of the impact on clubs but backed a delayed start to the season and 14 home-and-away rounds.

"Hopefully we do get on, but some time and effort needs to be put into how that happens and I think clubs need to get something out of it," Porter said. "At the end of the day, everyone's health and safety has to come first."

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Kirkwood said he was also a "big believer in playing everyone twice" but given the circumstances supported the abbreviated 10-round proposal recently put forward by Newcastle RL.

The former All Saints College student doesn't feel like there would be an "asterisk" next to this year's premier despite the shortened season because "you've still got to get out there and win games".

Having featured in two pre-season NSW Challenge Cup matches for Cessnock in February, Kirkwood said "it's not that long ago, but it feels like forever. You miss not playing, that routine of training Tuesday and Thursday and being around the boys".

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