'The repercussions are dire': Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says NRL must keep season alive

Stuart, a man who has seen everything from the Super League war to Kangaroos tours and grand finals in rugby league, fears the NRL won't be able to survive a total shutdown if officials have to take that action.

The code faces a financial freefall if the season is suspended following a positive COVID-19 test to a player or other person involved with a team, or by other factors relating to the virus pandemic.

The season will continue this week behind closed doors, with the Green Machine to meet the New Zealand Warriors in an empty Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

The future of the competition remains uncertain due to the potential spread of the coronavirus outbreak, with the NRL looking into a variety of options to keep the season alive.

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Stuart warned of the repercussions of suspending the rest of the season, saying the wages of all people involved in the game must be protected.

"The health and safety of everybody is paramount. We want to do everything we possibly can to keep the virus away," Stuart said.

"From a feasibility point of view, we do need the game. I don't think people understand the repercussions if the game is suspended for the season, if we're not playing the repercussions are dire.

"We need to protect the wages of everybody involved in the business and that's from club, to players and all staff.

"We have a number of staff in rugby league involved in its clubs and junior leagues that earn modest wages, who have to pay school fees, send their children to school and pay mortgages. It's everybody.

"Coming out and saying we should suspended the season, I don't think people fully understand the repercussions if the season was suspended for a year."

The Raiders have continued to train as normal but met with a team doctor on Monday to discuss additional measures to avoid any risk of contracting the coronavirus.

They're expected to fly to the Gold Coast on the day of the game and leave that night on a chartered plane, with the NRL considering all traveling options to protect players and team staff.

League officials have met with club chief executives to discuss how best deal with the threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

Travel restrictions has already forced Super Rugby to suspend its season, while the AFL has cut its competition from 23 rounds to 17 in response to the crisis.

"I think it's very smart by the NRL to fly teams to games and back within on day, it's helping [upkeep] players' health and welfare in hopefully a safe situation," Stuart said.

"The NRL are looking at all forms of solutions in regards to what could occur, whether it's shortening the competition or suspending it for a couple of weeks.

"I know that Don [Furner], as well as the chief executives, have been involved in a lot of meetings with the powers of the NRL and I know they're putting in a number of scenarios for a different structure of competition.

"I do think it's important the NRL keeps working as one to keep the game alive.

"I like the attitude of Peter V'landys has shown towards keeping it business as usual. We're no different to anybody else going out there to work.

"There's a bit of adversity at the moment, but the one thing with rugby league is it teaches you how to handle adversity and I think we'll do a good job of it."

NRL ROUND TWO

Saturday: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, 3pm.