V'landys: Penalties 'won't be soft' if players break self-isolation rules

Any player caught flouting the self-isolation rules the NRL is planning to implement for all 16 clubs, faces penalties that ARL chairman Peter V'Landys warned would be severe.

On Friday he and CEO Todd Greenberg spoke of how they wanted players to avoid public places like supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and pubs as a protective measure against the COVID-19 virus.

"We will be introducing penalties. No doubt about that, but it's the second part of the process. Let's get the protocols in place first," V'landys said on Triple M on Sunday.

He said the NRL had been discussing with the clubs and players what self-isolation should look like.

"We've given them a template and they've been very positive and cooperative about that. Then the second part of the process is to again consult the clubs and players in relation to how we penalise someone that acts recklessly," he said.

"We're not going to penalise someone that's made an innocent error. But someone in a nightclub at 3am who is putting all his teammates, his family, and the game at risk, there will be a penalty.

"I won't pre-empt that until we have the discussions but I can tell you one thing, it won't be soft."

The ARL Commission chairman also confirmed the NRL and AFL were not affected by the new edict from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reconsider all non-essential domestic travel.

V'landys also praised the Warriors saying he'd never seen "a more selfless act" than what that club had done by staying in Australia.

He also confirmed all NRL players were "fully aware" of the possibility of pay cuts.

"Absolutely, they are realistic," he said.

"We can't survive unless they take pay cuts in the some of the scenarios [regarding future of the 2020 season].

"But we all have to take pay cuts – cuts at clubs, the NRL and the NRL would lead by example with drastic cuts, the executive, the Commission, everyone has to take cuts.

"We all are in this together."

Pressed on how advanced the salary trimming conversation had gone with the RLPA, he said: "The conversation has already begun because no matter which scenario we're in, we're going to make significant financial losses.

"So that hard discussion has to happen next week and we are going to talk next week and have a look at our options.

"We've got to come together and act together and work together in good faith to reach a resolution.

"I've never seen more co-operation," he said, referring to the RLPA.

"Common sense will prevail. We'll come forward with a package for the players and I'm sure they'll accept it."