NRL 2021: Cronulla members to benefit from COVID fixture changes

Cronulla members will get more than they bargained for this year after scoring at least one extra home game on their season ticket.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 27: Chad Townsend of the Sharks runs with the ball during the round three NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Cronulla Sharks at Bankwest Stadium on March 27, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Cronulla’s members are the big winners of the sudden venue shift with Sharks season ticket holders given two bonus matches on Saturday.

The Sharks will allow ticketed members free entry into their clash against the Cowboys on Saturday which has been moved from the Sunshine Coast to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

The venue will also host the Raiders and Titans match immediately following Cronulla’s game.

Double-header tickets will go on sale on Thursday with entry included for both matches.

The NRL was busy scrambling on Wednesday to ensure the competition remained unaffected by the COVID outbreak in Queensland.

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Cronulla members will get free entry for their clash with North Queensland.

Titans players flew out on Wednesday afternoon while the Cowboys are slated to head to Sydney on Friday.

Titans boss Steve Mitchell said his club had been told to “be prepared (to be away from home) for a couple of weeks just in case.”

“It was the NRL to their credit – they made a decision so we wouldn’t have any interruptions this weekend,” Mitchell said.

“The best cause of action was to move to Sydney and make sure we’re there in case of any escalation locally.

“Our intent is to get home as soon as we can. That will be on the grounds of how the local situation goes. We are hoping to be back early in the week to be ready for the Knights.”

The Titans 30-man squad plus coaching and football staff were on a chartered flight on Thursday. They will base themselves at Sydney Olympic Park in the lead-up to Saturday’s clash.

“This is an opportunity to galvanise our group,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell indicated family members could join the players if it were to be a prolonged stay.

The Sharks’ home game will be part of a double header.

While they remain hopeful of a return their round five home match being played on the Gold Coast against Newcastle is in severe doubt.

That game could be again shifted to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium or played as part of a double header at Stadium Australia before the Bulldogs and Storm clash on April 10.

The Broncos and the Cowboys have away games next week.

The decision comes 48 hours after the Broncos relocated to Sydney for their next two games against Melbourne and Souths in the wake of the COVID outbreak that has hit the greater Brisbane region.

The Broncos were granted an exemption from the Victorian Government to fly into Melbourne on Friday to play the Storm before returning to Sydney.