Sunday, May 3rd | News Wrap | NRL scraps Ad campaign, Storm wait on Exemptions, and could the EPL come to Perth?

In Sunday news the NRL is scrapping its Simply the best campaign while the Storm are yet to be given training exemptions by the Victorian Government plus theres a proposal for the EPL to finish the season in Perth. All that and plenty more in todays wrap.

AFL

• The Age reports that the AFL could find themselves in a race against time to guarantee the 2020 grand final is played at the MCG after declaring on Saturday they aim to complete the season by the end of October.
• The Australian reports that the AFL could save up to $40m if it is able to convince state governments that its health protocols are coronavirus proof. The AFL would be looking at a potential bill of around $40m if the worst-case scenario, which involved housing clubs in quarantine hubs for the remainder of the season, came to pass.

EPL

• News Ltd reports that The Premier League is being offered an amazing Plan B escape route — to end the season in sunny Australian city Perth.

NRL 

• News Ltd reports that The NRL has decided to scrap its multimillion-dollar Simply The Best ad campaign. “We pulled the ad as soon as the season stopped,” Abdo said. “It was about getting fans to the game and now we have to work on a different message.”.
• AAP reports that Melbourne are still waiting on a Victorian government exemption to train at home from Monday or face relocating their NRL base over the border into NSW. Storm boss Dave Donaghy says talks are continuing but they need to make a final call on Sunday as they look to start preparations for the May 28 NRL season restart
• The Heraldsun reports that a group of 50 Melbourne Storm players and staff will likely assemble in Albury on Monday ahead of a May 28 NRL season restart if they are denied special permission to train in Victoria. *UPDATE* – Request DENIED by Vic Gov according to Nine.
• All Clubs will be restricted to training in just groups of 10 when pre-season resumes on Tuesday.
• Nine Media will have to adapt to meet its forecast cost reductions now that rugby league is set to resume by cutting other programming.

Overseas 

• ESPN reports that the unthinkable occurrence in sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a loss of at least AU$18 billion across the United States alone — and more than double if college football and the NFL are cancelled, too — according to an ESPN analysis.
• Legal action lodged by the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) over gender pay discrepancy has been thrown out by a federal judge, a blow which has surprised the defending World Cup football champions.
• SBS reports that an emergency Lega Serie A meeting was being held on Friday during which it is said all teams were in agreement to resume the campaign rather than follow the leads of the Eredivisie and Ligue 1, which have ended their respective seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic.