Sharks NRL coach John Morris calls for players to stay connected

Chairman Peter V'landys and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg announced on Monday that each team would receive $2.5 million to help get them through this unprecedented period where the competition has been suspended.

"We have a consolidated plan and working with the clubs and the players, are united in our efforts to do all we can to protect rugby league," V'landys said.

Sharks NRL coach John Morris said in these challenging times he wants his squad to stay connected and be positive.

Morris said Bronson Xerri (shoulder) and Josh Dugan (knee) would have been right to go if round three went ahead and he was confident Matt Moylan would be over his hamstring problems when the Telstra Premiership does eventually restart.

"Its been made real now," Morris said

"Players have taken gym gear home and have been given a training pack and schedule to maintain their fitness levels when they work out during self-isolation," Morris said

"If we can maintain their level of fitness it will be a real win for us.

"I've challenged them all to come back with a new skill or find a new hobby. They'll all stay connected and look out for each other and hopefully try and stay positive."

These are challenging times for the 16 NRL clubs and all sport, with new issues and dialogue happening every day with the full impact of the suspended season not yet known.

Cronulla skipper Wade Graham has floated the idea of playing State of Origin to launch the return of the NRL competition should it again be safe for players to take the field in 2020 after the NRL laid out multiple schedule possibilities to clubs, with potential start times ranging from June to September.

Graham proposed the Origin series could act as a precursor to any competition return, bringing the game back using its elite representative product.

"I think we should have Origin back in when we get that first weekend back, with the big crowds to kick it off," Graham said