Pressure on NRL: ‘Everyone is looking at us’

Just weeks after being one of the harshest critics of rugby league’s efforts to resume, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could back the NRL’s relaunch plans after a meeting with the state’s top medico.

Annastacia Palaszczuk and Peter V'landys

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The fate of Queensland’s three NRL clubs lies in the hands of the state’s chief health officer as the NRL and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk prepare to meet via Zoom later this week.

Details are yet to be finalised for one of the most important videoconference meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, as both parties wait on the advice of Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young.

Dr Young has been handed the NRL’s confidential return-to-play report to assess the sport’s extensive biosecurity measures for a competition resumption on May 28.

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Queensland’s three clubs, the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans, face the prospect of having to set up camp in New South Wales to avoid strict state border restrictions and 14-day isolation protocols.

However, the easing of several coronavirus restrictions in Queensland has sparked hope that the 150 players and staff from each club could remain at home and travel interstate to play.

This week’s meeting between V’landys and Palaszczuk will be the first time the pair will discuss the NRL’s looming resumption and what it will mean for the state’s three clubs.

Palaszczuk confirmed she had received the NRL’s safety plan but was now waiting on the advice of Dr Young.

ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys wants careful progress. Picture: Joel Carrett/AAP

“I can confirm that a plan was submitted late on Friday evening,” Palaszczuk said.

“It’s been forwarded to Dr Young (and) Dr Young will go through that plan.

“After that, then we will have conversations with the NRL and any other sporting code that has submitted a plan.”

Earlier this month, Palaszczuk criticised the NRL’s bold plan to resume on May 28.

However, her stance has seemed to soften, admitting she is open to top-level rugby league returning provided it was safe for the players and safe for the community.

It comes after V’landys said he remains “absolutely confident” that Queensland’s three teams will be ready to go for the May 28 kick-off, even if that means being based out of NSW.

The Broncos and Cowboys might have to move to NSW. Picture: Matt Taylor

“One way or another, we will absolutely have those clubs involved,” V’landys said.

“Either they will be based out of Queensland or here in NSW, but we will have them in.

“And by the time we start, who knows where things are at?

“The borders may have been opened to Queensland. We me even have access between Australia and New Zealand.

“Everything is moving so quickly with this.”

Originally published as Pressure on NRL: ‘Everyone is looking at us’