NRL boss Peter V’landys puts heat on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has called on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to keep an open mind when and consider the latest data before killing off any NRL restart.

Peter V’landys has urged the Queensland Government to “keep an open mind” as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk threatens to block the NRL’s May 28 season relaunch.

The NRL has set its sights on restarting the 2020 premiership season at the end of next month following its indefinite suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic.

ARL Commission chairman V’landys has conceded the May 28 resumption is “ambitious”, but the steady decline in COVID-19 infection rates along the nation’s east coast has given the NRL confidence.

The Queensland Government holds the key to the competition kickstarting because of strict border controls.

Palaszczuk has also cast doubt over State of Origin being played this year.

V’landys is hopeful of Palaszczuk coming to the party by late next month, especially after Queensland recorded only five new COVID-19 cases yesterday, the Sunshine State’s lowest result in more than a month.

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Annastacia Palaszczuk ghas cast doubt over State of Origin in 2020. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

“Over time when she gets all the full details she may have a different view,” V’landys told The Courier-Mail.

“At the moment we haven’t provided any details.

“We didn’t disrespect the Queensland Government, what we’re waiting for is to give ourselves another couple of weeks before we approached them to see how the infection rate was going.

“If the infection rate continued to drop like it has been they may have a different viewpoint of it. We ask they keep an open mind.

“Australia has got to go back (to normal) at some point.

“We’re not going to stay like this forever.”

V’landys said the NRL could not afford to wait for the pandemic to end before it started planning to restart.

“The mistake everyone has made is that they think we’re playing tomorrow. We’re not – it’s seven weeks away.’’

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“In that seven weeks you’ll have a lot more data and information to make informed decisions.

“If there’s five cases today, what if there were zero new cases on the 28th of May? What are we supposed to do – just sit on our hands?

“If it was to have a relapse or spike then you can change the date. But there’s nothing worse than come May 28 and it’s 0.1 per cent and hardly a risk and we weren’t ready to go.

“I appreciate it’s ambitious but I’d prefer to be ambitious than an under-achiever.

“We’ve got a duty to the fans, players and all the people involved in rugby league to be doing our best to get the sport back up and running as long as it’s not a risk to the players or community.

“We wouldn’t be doing it if we believed it was a risk.”

If Queensland border restrictions are eased or the NRL receives an exemption to enter the state, teams will continue to travel on private planes and have minimal contact with the public.

It is unlikely crowds will be allowed to attend games in the short term, but the NRL is desperate to have broadcast funding back in the mix.

“In the next two-three weeks the figures will speak for themselves – if they spike back up we will have to change our plans,” V’landys said.