At Shark Park on Tuesday there are known knowns; there are things we know we know.
Footy players want to play footy. No one wants to breathe on a footy player. Josh Morris is going to be a Rooster next week.
We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
No one knows what is happening in round 3. No one knows if the answer to the season is culling the Kangaroo tour or if players taking pay cuts will save clubs.
Yes, this is the rugby league x American politics crossover episode no one saw coming. Or requested.
Confused? You’re not alone.
While the Rabbitohs fulfilled their media duties via video conferencing and the Broncos kept a barrier that a blue light disco chaperone would be proud of, Sharks players fronted up on Tuesday morning to do what the rest of us are currently doing: wondering just exactly what is going to happen.
Below, I’ve sorted out what players do and do not know.
WHAT SHARKS PLAYERS KNOW
JOSH MORRIS IS GOING TO THE ROOSTERS
The Roosters-bound centre donned a no-contact red mesh singlet during the run on Tuesday, but is expected to take the field against the Storm in a rare certainty for the club.
"It’s certainly a circumstance that I haven’t been involved in before but I think we’re pretty lucky in the person that J. Moz is; he’s very experienced, professional and holds high standards for the way he plays and trains," Sharks captain Wade Graham said. "That’s why he’s been such a good player for such a long time.
"For someone who was younger it might have been a more difficult transition buit J. Moz has been great. The team understand the circumstances.
"[Him leaving] is the least of our problems."
Morris' injury is reportedly to do with his back.
"He better be right," Johnson said, with a laugh. "He still owes us one more game."
"As players, we didn't want him to go. We feel like we've made the Roosters a better side but, at the end of the day, he's done enough in this game to warrant ending his career in his manner."
PLAYING WITH NO FANS ISN’T THAT BIG OF A THING
“It’s going to be interesting,” Graham said of playing in front of an empty stadium. “Some of the pre-season opposed sessions do get quite heated and game-like, though. It’ll be strange to start with – but everything is strange at the moment.”
Chad Townsend suggested pumping crowd noises through the ANZ Stadium speakers, even though he's not that bothered by empty seats.
“He’s a weirdo, Chad; I don’t agree with that," fellow pivot Johnson said.. "We’ve had a warm-up last week; there was pretty much no one at ANZ anyway."
WADE GRAHAM DIDN’T TRAIN – BUT HE’LL PLAY
Graham got a cortisone injection for a longstanding ankle issue after the game on Saturday night and is waiting for the issue to settle. He’s a lock for playing on Saturday night.
Josh Dugan and Mattt Moylan also didn't train and are unlikely to return. Dugan was named in the reserves, though.
Bronson Xerri trained with the team but has not been named in the 21.
PAUL GALLEN IS NOT A CORONAVIRUS BACKUP
As he frequently is, the former Sharks skipper was on the field with the players during Tuesday’s session. But he won’t be back on the field.
“He likes to get in there and have a run around,” Graham said. “One of the hallmarks of Gal’s career was his competitiveness. To this day, even though he’s not playing, he likes to get in there and get involved with the boys.”
WHAT SHARKS PLAYERS DO NOT KNOW
HOW THE SEASON CAN GO AHEAD
“At this stage, I’m happy to be guided by the NRL and the club,” Graham said. “For the first time in a long time they’re all aligned in trying to work out what the best solution is. No one knows what the best solution is.
“If we keep the option to play open as long as we can even iff it means this week we lock fans out, it keeps other options on the table for longer."
“I’m no health expert; I’m here to play rugby league,” Sharks five eighth Shaun Johnson said. “If the experts say that it’s safe for us to play then I’m happy to play.”
“Hopefully we’ll get to play but if not then it is what it is.”
WHETHER PLAYERS WILL TAKE PAY CUTS
“We haven’t spoken about it at this stage,” Graham said. “Until we make a decision on what we’re doing it’s hard to talk about outcomes. If you don’t play as many games in the season, well then obviously there’s money that isn’t coming into the game. There’s a conversation that needs to happen."
Footy players; they're just like us. No one knows what's happening.
