Chris Hyde is about to become a father for the first time, is an electrician commuting to and from Sydney for work and, aged 32, is approaching the end of his sporting career.
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It's little wonder the former Newcastle Rugby League player of the year and Macquarie premiership-winning captain has mixed emotions about the prospects of a 2020 campaign, which remains on hold because of the coronavirus crisis.
While hooker Hyde, who has lined up for Woy Woy the last two years, still wants to claim another title and see the Central Coast Rugby League competition survive he can see both the personal and club benefits of having a season off.
"If we do play we'd probably be doing it for free. I have a pregnant wife with bad asthma, I'm going back and forth to Sydney for work and I'd have to weigh up paying a mortgage on one income without anything from footy," Hyde said. "For me, personally, if they call it off I'd be fine with that. But you don't want to see it all just fold and if it did end up going ahead I'd probably be itching to play."
Hyde, who featured on the reality television series NRL Rookie, also questioned what a Central Coast premiership might be worth this year without traditional powerhouse Wyong. Last week the Roos withdrew from all senior competitions.
Earlier this week NSW Rugby League announced online that Newcastle RL were planning for a 10-round season from July 18, but chief executive officer Matt Harris has previously stated that "our competitions could not proceed if social gathering restrictions remain in place".
A final call on Newcastle RL is expected after the state governing body review the NSW government's public health orders on June 1.
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