NRL boss Andrew Abdo opens up on dramatic lead up to code’s Queensland shift ahead of lockdown

‘The most complex operation I’ve ever done’. Andrew Abdo has revealed the events leading to the decision to shift the NRL competition to Queensland to prevent a $100 million loss.

NRL teams depart Sydney for a hub in Queensland because of the Covid 19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown. Picture: Toby Zerna

Anthony Abdo calls it “The Hole’.

For the past six days, it’s where Anthony’s father, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, has been living.

“When are you coming out of the hole, Dad,’’ Anthony, 12, has been asking on loop from the family’s Sydney’s north shore home.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo talking to Fox Sports from ‘The Hole’.

Cups of coffee are passed through the door of the small study by Abdo’s supportive wife Anna.

But the Abdo family’s favourite pooch, Buddy, isn’t so understanding.

He finds a way in — forcing Abdo to press pause on saving rugby league from losing $10 million every round if the competition is suspended.

“My dog comes and reminds me that it’s time for a walk,’’ Abdo said.

“Otherwise, I don’t need an alarm to wake-up, it’s normally a phone call that comes in on an issue.

“But don’t think this is just me, there’s some people working with incredible commitment within our team and you see people’s true colours in a crisis and what I have seen is incredible teamwork.’’

Outside of a quick stroll with Buddy, ‘The Hole’ is where Abdo has pulled the levers on the greatest and most challenging logistical project in NRL history.

At 6pm on Friday night, when the Titans host the Eels on the Gold Coast, Abdo will still be sitting inside the small room, facing his multiple computer screens.

It’s from the exact same seat that he and ARL Commission Chairman Peter V’landys made the most significant leadership decision the game has ever seen last Saturday.

The Novotel Brisbane South Bank is the Queensland hub for three Sydney clubs.

More than 1000 players, staff, club officials and family members aligned with 12 clubs have moved into three Queensland hubs for at least the next four weeks.

The Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, and Roosters are at the Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast.

The Eels, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Raiders and Warriors have set up camp at the Mercure on the Gold Coast.

That leaves the Dragons, Sharks and Tigers all sharing accommodation at the Novotel in Brisbane.

Their stay could stretch to the end of the season, if NSW Covid-19 community transmission rates fail to decline.

The cost to the game is astronomical — but less than the $100-million-plus loss the NRL faced by the very real prospect of the NSW Government shutting down the entire competition.

This is how Abdo, V’landys and the ARL Commission have done it.

10th July, Saturday 3pm: STATE OF ORIGIN IN NEWCASTLE IS SCRAPPED

Blues fans didn’t get to watch a home Origin in 2021.

“We had only made a call a few days earlier on playing Origin in Newcastle because we had permission to have a crowd capacity of 75 per cent,’’ Abdo explained.

“We were on track, but we began to become really worried about it on Friday and then on Saturday a message came through mid morning that suggested ‘you’re not going to be able to have any crowds at State of Origin.’

“Straight away, I thought there was no point in having Origin if you can’t have your Newcastle fans attend.

“In the weeks prior, we had drawn-up our contingencies, so we were ready.

“Stadium Australia (in Sydney) wasn’t feasible either and so after several conversations with Peter, analysis and discussions with stadiums, we called a Commission meeting and by mid afternoon we had a plan and approval in place for Origin to be played on the Gold Coast.

11th July, Sunday 10am - PHONE CALL TO V’LANDYS

“Peter and I speak every day and he watches the data and he has a great gut instinct,’’ Abdo said.

“He’d been flagging concerns about NSW, concerns about Origin, concerns about relocation to be honest, for a couple of weeks.

Peter V'landys was constantly involved in talks on the radical relocation

“He’s always thinking about staying ahead.

“We had to take back as many things that we could control. We couldn’t control the infection rate, we can’t control the government exemptions, we can’t control what people allow us to do, but we can control our risk where we play.

“So we spoke about watching the next couple of hours and focusing on our next step.’’

11th July, Sunday, 4.30pm - DECISION TO EVACUATE 12 CLUB

“While Origin planning was happening, we realised on Sunday it’s (the Covid-19 numbers in NSW) getting even worse,’’ Abdo said.

“We had an option drawn up that moved the Queensland and NSW teams into regional NSW, but the most expensive, the most challenging and the most arduous was to relocate the NSW teams into Queensland.

“Originally we thought it might be only the Sydney-based teams and that the Knights and Raiders would be okay to stay home.

“But very soon governments began to reclassify the ACT and we knew Queensland would follow.

“We were looking at a situation that the NSW government may not allow us to play anymore, we knew that the borders were closing, so we wouldn’t be able to travel anyway.

12th July, Monday 9am - WHY QUEENSLAND

“We had to look at where it was safest to play these games,’’ Abdo said.

“We had done our homework on several locations across the country, including regional NSW, Queensland and even Victoria.

“This is something we had prepared in a war room at League Central for several weeks.

“We had looked at all the facilities and Queensland provided us with the best and safest options for venues, training fields and gymnasiums.

12th July, Monday 10am - GIVE US YOUR DETAILS

“It was never a guarantee that the Queensland government would allow us to do this,’’ Abdo said.

“We had to provide crucial information from all the 12 clubs that were headed to Queensland.

“It was 500 people relocating in the first instance, even before families, which will take us to over 1000.

The Sydney Roosters squad board one of the Virgin planes to their new Sunshine Coast hub.

“And every one of them had to provide personal details, we had to get all of them Covid tested, screened and we had to get paperwork for each and everyone of them and submit that to the government.

“This all needed to be done and we had two days to get everyone on planes. Time was crucial to us.’’

13th July, Tuesday 9am - QUARANTINE PROMISE

“We had to demonstrate to the Queensland government that we could run our own quarantine facility,’’ Abdo said.

“We needed to get exclusive-use of hotels because you can’t have players locked in their rooms with other people staying at the hotel.

“We needed to create 12 high performance centres within close proximity to the hotels.

“We were on the phone to the Queensland Premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk) and the CEO of Accor (Simon McGrath).

“We had to have a quarantine plan and submit it to the government.

“We had to show them; here’s the 24-hour security, here’s the fencing, cleaning, security, bus companies, plane charters, here’s how they’ll get their meals … it was everything.’’

14th July, Wednesday 9am - V’LANDYS’ FINAL CALL TO COACHES

“Peter personally called all coaches of the teams and said ‘we need you all-in and leading us.’’ Abdo said.

“He’s (V’landys) a trojan. He’s in the trenches. He’s not just a decision-maker, he’s passionate about the way he thinks and about all the different ways to manage.

“It’s the most complex, logistical operation I’ve ever done in my career.

“We want to be optimistic about coming back to NSW.

“The key thing is community transmission rates and stability of borders.

“As soon as it is definitely safe and we get that sense of stability in borders, we want to come back.

“But we’re prepared to go another four weeks and we’re prepared to finish the season there.

“We just won’t know, but the next two weeks will be critical.’’

Originally published as NRL boss Andrew Abdo opens up on dramatic lead up to code’s Queensland shift ahead of lockdown