Premier’s Origin declaration as COVID outbreak spreads

With game one of the 2021 State of Origin series just 13 days away the NRL is anxiously monitoring Victoria’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Queensland will come to the rescue of the blockbuster State of Origin opener in just 13 days with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledging to host it in the Sunshine State if Victoria’s COVID-19 emergency escalates.

While the NRL’s preference is to play game one on neutral turf - with Canberra understood to be the likely choice - Ms Palaszczuk has declared Suncorp Stadium is available on June 9 to host the first clash of the three-game series at a moment’s notice.

“If Melbourne can’t host game one, Queensland will be absolutely ready,” she said.

“I’m in regular contact with the NRL about locking in more content for Queensland.”

The NRL is anxiously monitoring the situation as the Victorian Government considers a snap five-day lockdown amid growing fears a highly-contagious strain of COVID-19 has infected patrons at heavily populated locations including bars, nightclubs and the MCG.

There are fears players could face quarantine issues on their return to Queensland, and that the opening match will be played in front of no crowd.

Queensland win the 2020 State of Origin. Photo: Nathan Hopkins/ NRL Photos

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the competition was eager to keep the match at a neutral venue and said the competition was ready “for whatever situation emerges”.

“We need to think about what happens with Victorian State Government protocols but also with exemptions required for travel so we are monitoring it but at this stage we aren’t taking any further action,” he said.

“It’s early days. At this stage, we are monitoring the situation very carefully but if we have to increase the protocols (for players) we will and if we need to consider a contingency plan for where we play Origin I, we will.
“We are looking at several venues for that but we would have to see a significant increase in the number of community cases and the potential for lockdown in Victoria before we would consider that.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland’s track record of hosting sporting teams and national competitions meant it was again ready to step up. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Venues in Canberra, Perth and Adelaide have been mooted as potential hosts, but Suncorp Stadium officials are ready to host the game in Brisbane.

AFL teams have fled Melbourne to ensure this weekend‘s games can go ahead and Melbourne Storm players have decided to remain in Queensland after their Thursday night clash with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

“Following consultation with the NRL, Melbourne Storm has decided to extend its camp at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast given the current fluid COVID-19 situation in Melbourne,” the club said.

“Storm will continue to liaise with governments, their health authorities and the NRL before making any decision on a return date to Victoria.”

The Melbourne Vixens Super Netball team left for Brisbane on Wednesday rather than travel on Friday as scheduled for their clash against the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena.

And racing identities began flocking to Queensland yesterday ahead of Saturday’s Queensland Derby, including Melbourne Cup winners Jye McNeil and Craig Williams.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland’s track record of hosting sporting teams and national competitions meant it was again ready to step up as the pandemic again hits the southern state.

“Securing major sporting events that inject millions of dollars into our economy and support local jobs is an important part of our economic recovery plan,” she said.

“Thanks to the way we responded to the pandemic, Queensland became the home of Australian sport in 2020.”