Border wars: Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fires back at NRL
While the NRL has declared it will definitely restart the 2020 premiership season on May 28, the closure of Queensland’s border means the state’s three clubs are facing uncertain lead-ups.
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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has fired back at the NRL, urging the game to prove why it should be allowed to bypass the Sunshine State’s border ban.
The NRL has declared it will definitely restart the 2020 premiership season on May 28.
But the closure of Queensland’s border means the state’s three clubs are facing uncertain lead-ups to the season resumption.
There is a chance the NRL will have to play all matches in NSW and that would mean the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans could be forced to relocate to NSW indefinitely.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said he planned to meet with the Premier in the coming weeks to outline the NRL’s plan to safely enter and exit Queensland.
And Palaszczuk said she was waiting to see the game’s plan before deciding whether to grant the NRL a travel exemption.
“There is no detailed plan — I call on the NRL to submit that detailed plan and I will immediately forward it to Dr (Jeannette) Young (Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer) for her consideration and to report back to me,” she said.
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“I’m saying to NRL — send the detailed plan, send all of your health information, send how it’s all going to work.
“Put it in a detailed plan and I’m more than happy to forward it to Dr Young. Dr Young has said today she’s more than happy to consider it.
“I think they’ve been dealing with the NSW Government and I think they need to submit it to all other governments that have NRL teams.”
The NRL is of the belief Queensland’s border restrictions will be relaxed by May 28 on the back of Australia’s encouraging coronavirus infection statistics.
Palaszczuk reported on Thursday morning there had been two new positive cases in Queensland on the back of zero new infections on Wednesday.
Palaszczuk said she would assess the situation of Queensland’s NRL teams, but the sooner she received information the better.
“There are some Queensland teams here so let’s see what can happen,” she said.
“I don’t want to speculate until I can see the detailed plan.
“If everyone can just wait until we get the detailed plans and let Dr Young consider it…the sooner they get it in the better it will be.”
NRL teams will return to training on May 4, giving them three weeks to prepare for Round 3 of the new-look NRL season.
As it stands, NRL teams will not be allowed to enter Queensland, meaning all games will have to be played in NSW.
That would require the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans to relocate south of the Tweed indefinitely, impacting their preparations and robbing them of the opportunity to play home games.
The NRL is hopeful Palaszczuk will ease border restrictions by late May, or grant the game a travel exemption, on the back of Queensland’s encouraging coronavirus infection statistics.
The state has recorded zero new cases on two of the past three days, proving guidelines have been successful in stemming the spread of COVID-19.
Ideally, the NRL needs to finalise a draw with broadcasters for the remainder of the season at least a fortnight before it recommences to schedule games and book venues.
Project Apollo leader Wayne Pearce said Queensland teams would need to relocate as it stands, but the situation was changing quickly.
“As of today, those teams would have to come into camp in NSW, but the landscape is changing pretty quickly,” he said.
“The government authorities that we are speaking to are very supportive of what we’re looking to do because we are actually looking to hold ourselves to very high standards, and that will certainly exceed what community expectations are.”
The NRL will fly teams on private jets and avoid staying in hotels to reduce the chance of a player contracting the virus.
The NRL is hoping Queensland will be open for business by the time the season restarts to ensure the integrity of the competition.
While crowds will not be allowed to attend games due to social distancing guidelines, the NRL wants Queensland teams to be playing at their home venues.
The Broncos are eyeing off a base in northern NSW as opposed to Sydney if they are forced to leave Queensland.
A spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night said Ms Palaszczuk wouldn't comment on lifting border restrictions until she had seen the NRL’s plan, but she has previously said that she would only act on medical advice in easing restrictions.
No decision has been made on when border restrictions will ease, which will depend heavily on how many coronavirus cases emerge over the next month.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night said she would not comment on the lifting of border restrictions until she had seen the NRL’s plan.
She has previously stated that she would only act on medical advice in relation to the lifting of border restrictions.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the NRL had written to the Premier and had plans in place to safely enter and exit Queensland.
“We appreciate the Premier’s got an open mind and has opened the door, we will take advantage of that and we have written to her,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of time before we meet with her and satisfy her with the biosecurity measures we’ve put in place, which are probably the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen and will be the benchmark for all sports.
“The infection rates in NSW and Victoria are less than 1 per cent. For the first time, more people are recovering than becoming infected.
“We’ve always said the data will be imperative. When we made the decision about the 28th of May we were doing it on the condition the infection rate would continue to come down and stabilise and that’s exactly what it’s done.
“We’re more confident than ever now.
“We’re of the view the border restrictions will be removed soon.”
Originally published as Border wars: Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fires back at NRL