Group 2 rugby league looking for exemption to play finals

Rugby league clubs and officials have not given up on playing finals footy this year despite a ban on community sport. Here is how they hope to get back on the field.

The Group 2 rugby league bosses are making one last play to finish their finals series and season.

NSW Rugby League announced on Wednesday it was cancelling all remaining rugby league competitions after being advised that public health orders did not allow for organised or competitive community sport to restart.

However, Group 2 CEO Jim Anderson and Coffs Comets president Steve Gooley are making a last-ditch effort for the season and have developed a Covid-safe plan to play the remaining finals.

Comets president Steve Gooley.

They took the plan to Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh on Monday to apply for an exemption through the NSW Office Of Sport.

Mr Anderson said there were only four teams left in the competition, with the finals slated to be held at three grounds, Macksville, Grafton and Coffs Harbour.

“These grounds all only have two entrances, they are ticketed, we would have user-pay police and Covid rules would be enforced throughout the ground,” he said.

Group 2 rugby league bosses are desperately trying to get a final series played to finish off the 2021 season.

Mr Gooley said they had asked for a maximum of 1000 people at the ground and was waiting anxiously to hear whether or not their exemption would be granted.

Mr Singh said he had forwarded the application to the Office of Sport, who would then liaise with the Department of Health as to whether or not the competition could go ahead.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh.

“Obviously the health department has quite a lot of priorities, so we’re not expecting an answer back for a few days, but maybe something soon,” Mr Singh said.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the government stood by its decision to cancel community and regional sport, and stated they always followed the health advice.

“We made a clear decision that community sport can’t happen,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate but if we’re protecting lives … these decisions are made on health advice in protecting people and communities.”

Mr Barilaro said that while some organisations may be able to enact some Covid protocols such as QR-codes, the reality was the vast majority couldn’t and they made a blanket decision to ban community sport.

Group 2 rugby league bosses are desperately trying to get a final series played to finish off the 2021 season.

However, a spokesman from NSW Health said that some outdoor gatherings including ticketed sporting fixtures were allowed in the general areas of NSW not classified as a stay at home area provided public health orders were adhered to.

“In general areas of New South Wales, major recreation facilities, such as a stadium, are permitted to have the lesser of one person per 4 square metres or 5000 people,” he said.

“500 people can also attend a controlled public gathering provided the gathering is enclosed or bounded by a fence or barrier and can only be accessed by way of a ticket and at which all people (other than staff) are assigned to a specific seat or seating area.”

The spokesman said NSW Health provided advice around public gatherings but was not responsible for cancelling events.

In the plan for the finals devised before lockdown ended, initially the second placed Coffs Harbour Comets would play third placed Macksville Sea Eagles.

The winner would play the minor premiers Grafton Ghosts, and the loser the South Grafton Rebels, who won the only final played this year, finishing just as the most recent lockdown was about to begin.