Junior footy finals: Peter V’landys secures larger crowd numbers | Coronavirus NSW
The power of Peter V’landys has delivered yet again, with more families finally cleared to attend junior footy games just in time for this weekends’ rugby league finals.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Offer extended: Subscribe to the Telegraph for just $1.00
- Scott’s night of terror must not be allowed to slide by
The power of Peter V’landys has helped score another huge win for rugby league mums and dads, with approval for larger crowds to attend junior footy grand finals across the state this weekend.
It means junior matches being played at major facilities, where it is possible to ticket and seat attendees, the maximum crowd will be lifted to 25 per cent of seating capacity.
For the majority of community grounds that don’t have seats, only one field will be operating at a time with the capacity to remain at 500.
But significantly, for venues that have multiple fields exemptions have been granted.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
This is in relation to Macquarie University and Tuggerah Sporting Complex on the Central Coast, with up to 500 spectators per field now permitted.
The changes come after days of growing frustration among junior league communities.
Previously, the plan at venues like Macquarie University and Tuggerah was restricted to one ticket for each participating child, but not passing a capacity of 500 in total.
For example, at Tuggerah this capacity can now be stretched to 2000.
Mr V’landys on Friday put his powerful connections to work as the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman negotiated with NSW Rugby League chief executive David Trodden, Sports Minister Geoff Lee and Health Minister Brad Hazzard to get a resolution.
It is a tremendous win for many families who otherwise would have been locked out of this weekend’s games.
It will not only take enormous pressure off the volunteers working at the grounds, but also families who would have had to pick and choose who could attend.
Mr Trodden said he was confident these changes would allow everyone wanting to attend to do so at almost 400 community football finals played across 50 venues this weekend.
“We are very grateful to the Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and the Department of Health for facilitating a commonsense solution that will allow our season to be completed in a way that lets everyone celebrate the great success of being able to get community sport happening in such a difficult time,” Mr Trodden said.
“We wish everyone involved in finals this weekend an enjoyable and COVID-safe day.”
MORE NRL NEWS
Craig Bellamy in talks to join Brisbane Broncos for 2022 season
Sport Confidential: NRL let referee Gavin Badger go after 16 years in the game
NRL 2020: CEO Andrew Abdo’s ‘Curtis Scott’ warning for players as bubble bursts
NRL 2020: Crawley Files season review as Panthers, Storm top the class
Families have been reminded to maintain 1.5m social distancing, to observe the COVID-19 safe convention of one person per four square metres, and that people do not congregate in groups of more than 20.
The changes come in the wake of Sydney mum Amy Smith setting up an online petition that received more than 10,000 signatures of support.
The led to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s announcing this week that there had been a change to the one parent policy, but those changes came with some unforeseen issues.
While it was initially assumed it would cover every region when Mr Lee said all parents would be able to attend from this weekend, that hadn’t factored in complexes like the one at Tuggerah and Macquarie University.
Originally published as Junior footy finals: Peter V’landys secures larger crowd numbers | Coronavirus NSW