NRL 2021: Freedom for NRL players and families as Covid restrictions eased

Cafes and restaurants? Nightclubs and pubs? NRL players can finally taste freedom after the easing of biosecurity rules.

NRL players will be hoping their second taste of freedom in Queensland will last longer than two days after biosecurity rules were eased on Sunday night.

Players went into level three restrictions again after the Queensland government lifted the state’s snap lockdown of the south-east region.

Before the easing of restrictions on Sunday night, the NRL put the entire game in level four plus protocols — the harshest restrictions since the pandemic hit the game over 18 months ago — when Queensland recorded their largest number of transmissions in a year.

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Players will now be able to leave their hubs on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane for approved activities like shopping for food and exercise.

Dining at cafes and restaurants with household members and other players from within the same hub will also be permitted.

But nightclubs and pubs, which are considered high risk transmission venues, will be no go-zones.

Restrictions have been eased for NRL players and families. Picture: Liam Kidston

Players were put into level three restrictions after completing a 14-day isolation period upon arriving in Queensland as part of the game’s huge relocation effort to keep the season alive.

That bit of freedom only lasted just over two days when an unexpected outbreak of the Delta strain forced the Queensland government to implement a snap lockdown on the 31st of July.

Level four plus protocols were designed to limit the movement of players and involved daily testing, reduced number of club officials on game day and games to be played at one venue.

NRL family reunion a month in the making

— Fatima Kdouh

For NRL players like St George Illawarra forward Tariq Sims, hugging his two daughters on Tuesday morning was a moment four weeks in the making.

While most players headed to southeast Queensland three weeks ago, the state’s best players have been separated from loved ones since July 5 when the escalating Covid crisis in Sydney’s east forced the Blues to move their Origin III camp from Coogee to Kingscliff on the NSW far north coast.

“With Blues camp, I was involved with that, so it‘s been a month since I’ve seen my kids. I’m pretty excited to catch up with them and I’m sure they’ll want to sleep with dad,” Sims said.

Dragons forward Tariq Sims is reunited with his family in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Teammate Jordan Pereira was also waiting to greet his young son as soon as he arrived at the Dragons temporary home base at the Novotel in Brisbane.

Around 490 family members of NRL players and club staff were released from a rocky 14-day quarantine on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

But families will now be forced to live under tough public health orders after Queensland’s southeast was placed into lockdown as the state grapples with the largest outbreak since the first wave last year.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE ❤️ It was all hugs and smiles as our Panthers family was reunited on the Sunshine Coast.#pantherpridepic.twitter.com/vUKGShi57u

— Penrith Panthers (@PenrithPanthers) August 4, 2021

💙 Reunited. pic.twitter.com/uGRYgigM0H

— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) August 4, 2021

Families can only leave their respective NRL hubs on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to shop for essentials like food and are allowed one hour of exercise a day.

Within their hubs, families will be confined to their own guest rooms but will be allowed to eat meals and spend time together in their team rooms.

“Under the Lockdown orders, households are not allowed to visit each other. The same applies within the hotel – families are not allowed to visit each other’s Guest Rooms. Families must also keep away from each other in the public areas of the hotel while the Lockdown is on,” the NRL told families on Tuesday.

Jordan Pereira was also reunited with his young family in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

While the NRL has its own players under tightened level four biosecurity restrictions, family members do not have to comply with the same stringent rules.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo warned families to comply with Queensland’s public health orders, including wearing masks at all times during the lockdown.

It’s important we adhere to the protocols, if I can ask you to wear your masks at all times. It’s a critical component of our exemption. Have one with you at all times,” Abdo said.

Families arrived to a chaotic first 48-hours on the Gold Coast two weeks ago when Queensland Health reneged on a number of quarantine privileges like access to the resort pool, gym and forcing the families to gaffer tape their balconies.

The pool and gym will again be a no-go zone for families at their respective hubs, with only players allowed to use the facilities during the lockdown period.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Freedom for NRL players and families as Covid restrictions eased