NRL relocates Dolphins vs Rabbitohs round 1 game due to Cyclone Alfred

The NRL has relocated Friday’s round 1 match scheduled for Suncorp Stadium, but a player’s wife has slammed the league.

The NRL has made the decision to relocate Friday night’s round 1 match between the Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs to Sydney due to the impact of Cyclone Alfred in southeast Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Brisbane on Thursday. Massive waves, isolated rainfalls of up to 700mm and “damaging to destructive winds” are forecast to batter millions of residents.

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The Rabbitohs vs Dolphins game was scheduled for 7pm Queensland time at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, but late on Tuesday afternoon the NRL confirmed the match would be played in Sydney instead.

It will now be played at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta at the same time of 8pm Sydney time (7pm Queensland time).

The NRL said it “made the decision today to allow for the appropriate changes to be implemented and acknowledges and thanks both the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs for their approach and co-operation”.

The game has been moved from Suncorp Stadium to Sydney. Picture: Tara Croser.

The league added “the safety of players, fans and the community were the highest priority when considering the venue change”.

The NRL said ticket holders to the match at Suncorp Stadium are advised that the Dolphins will be in touch as soon as possible with further information around options

The Round 17 match between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs will now become a Dolphins home fixture.

Not everyone was satisfied with the decision to relocate the match.

Bree Nikorima, the wife of Dolphins five-eighth Kody Nikorima, expressed anger about the move to let the game go ahead despite the imminent threat of Cyclone Alfred on Brisbane.

“Because a game of football is THAT IMPORTANT,” she wrote on Instagram.

Kodi Nikorima's wife Bree didn't think the game should go ahead. Photo: Instagram.

Kodi and Bree Nikorima at the Dolphins season launch. Photo: Richard Walker

“Leaving the families behind to ride out the direct line of cyclone alone. Some with no support at all.

“I’m 6 months pregnant with 2 young kids in an area that can flood, digsuting.”

“Do better @nrl,” she added with a vomit emoji.

The home game swap agreement was reached after the clubs even considered playing the game behind closed doors at Suncorp Stadium, locking fans out for their own safety in the wild weather.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said: “Firstly, we hope everyone in Queensland and northern New South Wales are staying safe and following the advice of authorities with regards to protecting themselves in the face of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and Campbell Graham. Pic: Instagram

Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“The advice we received from the QLD government was to move the game and we have been able to accommodate the move.”

As a result of the venue change, all remaining six games of round 1 will be held in Sydney this weekend.

It comes after the AFL made the call earlier on Tuesday to reschedule Thursday night’s season opening game between reigning premiers Brisbane and Geelong at the Gabba.

Saturday’s AFL game on the Gold Coast between the Suns and Essendon was also postponed.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said a decision hasn’t been made on when the two games would be rescheduled to.

Originally published as NRL relocates Dolphins vs Rabbitohs round 1 game due to Cyclone Alfred