Townsville to enter bid to host 8 NRL teams after season relaunch

Townsville is expected to put forward a proposal to host up to eight teams in North Queensland if the NRL is to return this season after the COVID-19 suspension.

Townsville is expected to put forward a proposal to host up to eight teams in North Queensland if the NRL is to return this season after the COVID-19 suspension.

The Weekend Australianreports city officials have discussed the prospect of playing host to one of the ‘bubbles’ of players when the competition resumes, which could be as early as June.

Gladstone, Western Sydney, southeast Queensland, Mudgee and Canberra are also in the running to host NRL teams.

It is understood Townsville leaders will contact the NRL and bid to host one of the ‘bubbles’ next week. Its cause no doubt helped the has two quality grounds — the newly opened Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Townsville Football Stadium, formerly 1300 SMILES Stadium — at its disposal.

North Queensland has also reported less cases of COVID-19 than the state’s southeast, and far fewer than NSW. Queensland Health confirmed there were 22 cases in the Townsville Hospital and Health Service area.

Cowboys country, Townsville, could host up to eight NRL teams if the season can resume following the COVID-19 suspension. Picture: Alix Sweeney

News Corp can reveal Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has coronavirus data, including records of the Warriors isolated in New Zealand, as he readies aseason relaunch involving all 16 teams.

He said the data showed players were safer now than when the competition was put on hold in March.

“The data I have been given shows it is safer for us to play now than when we stopped the competition,” V’landys said.

“When we announced the shutdown (on March 23) the infection rate in NSW (for coronavirus) was 22.27 per cent.

“When we were playing (in round one), it was 32.21 per cent … and now the infection rate is down to 3.96pc in NSW. The latest advice we have is that the infection rate is coming down.”

Meanwhile Cowboys skipper Michael Morgan has not given up hope he will have a ball back in his hands before the year is through.

Morgan has worked closely with wife Brianna, who was forced to temporarily close the doors of her fitness centre, First Base, to ensure he maintains his own fitness off the field. He was adamant he could run out this weekend if it became a reality, and said that extended to all of the Cowboys extended squad.

Originally published as Townsville to enter bid to host 8 NRL teams after season relaunch