NRL 2021: Peter V’landys won’t use AFL-style gag order on players’ wives, partners

The strict rules families will face in the NRL’s Queensland hub have been revealed — but they won’t include one harsh measure used by the AFL.

Peter V’landys says the NRL won’t silence players’ wives and partners. Picture: Jonathan Ng

An AFL-style ‘WAG gag’ has been rejected by Peter V’landys — who says the NRL has no interest in silencing the wives and partners of players relocating to Queensland.

On a historic day for the NRL competition, 12 clubs will begin their official move for at least the next four weeks to three separate hubs on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast on Wednesday.

More than 300 wives, girlfriends and children will travel to separate hotels near-by the Queensland-based hubs on Saturday.

The travelling families will be held to the harshest of protocols.

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Under Queensland Government guidelines, families and children aged two and above will need to provide a negative Covid-19 test before leaving.

Further testing is required by Queensland Health on days one, five, 12 and 16.

The AFL chose a similarly challenging journey to make 12 months ago to save the 2020 season, when Victoria was gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time, a memo was sent to wives and girlfriends demanding women not comment “negatively” about the code or the Covid hubs or they faced being ejected from the Queensland base.

Peter V’landys says the NRL won’t silence players’ wives and partners. Picture: Jonathan Ng

As revealed by The Australian on Tuesday, many women, partners of officials and players said there were some trying circumstances for many AFL families in the hub but they were constrained from speaking about at times difficult conditions.

However, V’landys told The Daily Telegraph there had been no consideration from the NRL towards gagging the family members and partners of players.

“The wives and partners can say whatever they like – there’ll be no constraints on freedom of speech,’’ V’landys said.

“We won’t be gagging anyone.

“We don’t underestimate the impact that this decision has had on our extended family members and in many ways, the wives, partners and children, are the real heroes.

Players’ partners and children will be tested on days one, five, 12 and 16. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“We know that behind every one of our players is a family member loving them and supporting them and that’s what we’re also endeavouring to do for those family members that are able to relocate to Queensland.’’

The NRL is attempting to leave no stone unturned in their bid to implement a sense of normality and schedule to the lives of the wives, partners and children travelling north.

Daily activities, themed-dinners and educational tools are being organised by the NRL and the 12 clubs.

Some clubs have asked for anyone with teaching experience to step-forward to run school lessons for kids staying inside the hubs.

Other clubs will offer their own high performance staff to conduct personal training and fitness sessions for family members.

The NRL is faced with a monumental logistical exercise to transport the 12 clubs into hubs.

Purpose-built gyms are being built at the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hubs for the players to use during their mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

The NRL are under strict orders from the Queensland Government – if the competition is to keep going.

The overall financial impact on the NRL is astronomical. However, shutting-down the competition is considered more crippling.

The Daily Telegraph understands that if the NRL suspends the competition, the loss of earnings is estimated at almost $12 million per round.

However, the decision to shift the competition to Queensland, where crowds can attend matches, will reduce the overall damage.