Nomadic Cup victors Sheffield Eagles have more worries than coronavirus

Well, it was a noble thought, one shared by about 400 people including 34 players, 20 backroom staff, 11 members of the media, five officials, around two dozen stadium employees and rather more worryingly, a little over three figures of paying punters.

Whether the threat of the spread of coronavirus was behind the low turnout is anyone’s guess. It would require a straw poll of all those punctuating the Rovers red seats of the Keepmoat and those who had stayed at home to determine that. But the Eagles have more lasting concerns than a virus that has crippled the sporting calendar and gripped a nation with fear.

Homelessness is the Eagles’ ongoing problem. Playing in Doncaster yesterday, 20 miles away from their temporary home ground of the Olympic Legacy Park which is under renovation, would arguably have had more impact on the attendance – recorded at a generous 323 – than a global pandemic that has not yet reached its peak in this country.

The Eagles have been without roots since Don Valley Stadium was destroyed in 2014, since when they have played at Wakefield’s Belle Vue, Sheffield Hallam University’s Bawtry Road site and the OLP in Attercliffe, which is the closest thing they have to calling somewhere home.

The Keepmoat has been an occasional rental, while their next home game, should it survive any delay to the season, will be at Doncaster Knights’ rugby union ground next Sunday.

Sheffield are awaiting the completion of the OLP to finally have somewhere to call home again and a route back into the city.

Such a peripatetic existence is a big ask of any fanbase, let alone one at semi-professional level.

The fear for many in the Championship and League One, like Sheffield and Workington, is what a suspension of the season could mean to clubs who live hand to mouth.

Home games are the biggest generator of income. Sheffield are boosted when well-followed teams like Bradford, Featherstone and Widnes come to town, but Workington in Doncaster is not going to keep a club in business, not one staring at an unspecified period of inactivity.

If the RFL take the decision in a meeting tomorrow to suspend the season due to the coronavirus outbreak, it could be catastrophic for clubs of this standing.

At least the Eagles have a place in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup to console themselves with, whenever that competition and sport itself resumes, should rugby league be put on hold.

Their Championship pedigree proved enough to withstand a plucky Workington Town side, Eagles winning 34-18 to reach the last 16.

It was competitive. It was enjoyable. It might be the last we see of sport for a while.