NRL Covid: Drastic measures as NRL aims to avoid Covid cluster
Relocating clubs, venue changes and switching the entire competition to one area. All options are being considered.
NRL
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Teams could be relocated or venues changed as the latest Covid-19 breakout threatens to derail the competition.
The NRL are in the midst of working through contingency plans but chairman Peter V’landys is adamant there are no plans to shutdown the game, although he admits “this a significantly bigger challenge” than last year.
Among the potential options include:
– Relocating NSW teams to Queensland
– Moving Queensland-based clubs to NSW
– Switching the entire competition to northern NSW
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Crowds will be locked out of matches this week but there are no plans to have centralised venues at this stage like were in use at times last season. Players are locked in stage three protocols with the game essentially returning to the same situation as last year with charter flights and placed in a bubble.
Origin players will be on a chartered flight out of Brisbane on Monday morning. They will have to undergo a Covid-19 test on Tuesday with the hope they will re-join their club side on Wednesday.
V’landys said the greater Sydney region lockdown makes the rules clearer.
“Out of a negative there is a positive for us,” V’landys said. “Everyone is in the same boat as the players.
“We are drawing up plans for every contingency to ensure the competition stays at 100 per cent with integrity. We will be ready for any challenge. We’re spending a lot of time and effort in drawing up the contingency plans.
“We want to cause the least disruption and inconvenience. There will have to be some sacrifice if we want to keep the competition going.”
The NRL were locked in discussions with the Queensland Government to determine if Cronulla will be allowed to fly in and out for their match in Brisbane next Sunday.
The NRL will meet with their biosecurity experts on Tuesday. Clubs were briefed on matters in a phone hook-up on Saturday afternoon and warned restrictions could be tightened.
They were told there will be no crowds and clean zones at venues will be reintroduced.
The news came as two more Bulldogs were sent for Covid-19 tests after breaching the NRL directive to stay home last Sunday.
Forwards Sione Katoa and Corey Waddell have been isolated after it emerged the duo joined three teammates at the Royal Hotel last weekend. Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham and Aaron Schoupp were the other players involved.
It is understood four of the five players have already tested negative for Covid-19 including Napa, Wakeham and Schoupp.
The entire Bulldogs squad may undergo a Covid-19 test before being allowed to resume preparation for their next clash against Manly on Saturday. There are doubts if the five players will be eligible for selection as they face sanctions.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou said the return to the bubble reminded him of last year.
“There isn’t much we can do about it,” Tupou said. “Follow the rules that are put in place.”
NRL BOSSES FLEE QLD AMID COVID OUTBREAK
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo will leave Queensland immediately as the Maroons and NSW prepare to enter Covid clean zones for State of Origin II on Sunday night.
The NRL is returning to last year’s strict game-day Covid requirements with State of Origin’s 34 combatants from Queensland and NSW to undergo temperature checks ahead of the return bout at Suncorp Stadium.
The NSW Origin team will go into a bubble from 1am in accordance with Covid hot spots affecting nominated Sydney areas, while the NRL is in talks with the Queensland government in relation to the Maroons, who are staying at a Gold Coast hotel.
V’landys and Abdo arrived on Queensland soil two days ago to attend the women’s and men’s Origin fixtures, but they will fly out tonight to ensure they adhere to the Covid crackdown.
V’landys is adamant State of Origin II is not in jeopardy with Blues and Maroons stars to enter the game-day Level 3 clean zones enacted for last year’s NRL premiership.
“The Origin teams will be going back to clean zones, we are going back to Level 3 protocols,” he said.
“We are still talking with the Queensland government on the other requirements, but we are confident everything else will be fine.
“The Queensland government is assisting us every way they can and there will be further meetings.
“The NSW team will go into a bubble, but with Queensland it’s still to be determined.
“The one certainty is we will be going into clean and dirty zones for game day.
“On the night, we will go back to what was required last year where players will undergo temperature checks, washing their hands, no contact with the media, all that sort of stuff.”
V’landys was due to hold formal meetings with the three NRL expansion hopefuls on Monday in Brisbane.
The formal presentations will still go ahead with three ARL Commissioners in attendance, while V’landys and Abdo will participate in discussions with the Firehawks, Jets and Dolphins.
“Peter Beattie will remain for the expansion meetings with the bid teams,” he said.
“Those meetings will proceed, but it will be done by video conference.
“Peter Beattie, Kate Jones and Megan Davis will be there live, but myself, Andrew Abdo and the other assessment committee will not be in attendance.
“Peter Beattie will remain because he is not affected by the areas deemed a hot spot.
“The NRL offices are in the Randwick precinct and I work in the CBD, so myself and Andrew will have to go (back to Sydney).”
PANTHERS ISSUE REFUNDS TO NEAR SOLD-OUT DERBY
The Panthers have made the tough decision to refund tickets to their local derby against Parramatta next Friday due to Sydney’s Covid-19 spike.
On the verge of a sold-out clash against their neighbouring rivals, the Panthers have been forced to adhere to government regulations by reducing the stadium’s capacity to a maximum of 50 per cent.
That includes one person per four-square metres allowed to view the match on the grassed-hill area.
The Panthers posted a message via social media to fans explaining the need to refund tickets.
“To adhere with strict government restrictions announced earlier on Friday, a reduced ticket allocation for next Friday’s Battle of the West at BlueBet Stadium will be made exclusively available to 2021 Panthers members via a redemption process,’’ the Panthers wrote.
“Unfortunately all tickets previously purchased for the game via Ticketek have had to be cancelled, in order for the venue to adhere to the new regulations.
“All affected customers will receive full refunds from Ticketek in the coming week.”
ROOSTERS MOVE HOME GAME AS SYDNEY OUTBREAK WORSENS
The Roosters have moved their next match to Newcastle as Sydney’s COVID-19 cluster continues to impact the NRL.
The Roosters announced their Round 16 clash with Melbourne Storm would now be played at McDonald Jones Stadium next Thursday.
“The people of the Hunter Region love rugby league so it was an easy call to take our Round 16 home game to Newcastle,” said Roosters head coach Trent Robinson.
“We always enjoy making the trip to Newcastle and playing at McDonald Jones Stadium, so we’re really looking forward to hosting this game at the ground for all the passionate rugby league fans of Newcastle, including ours.”
Meanwhile, fly in, fly out charter planes and venue changes are all being considered for Round 16 in a bid to keep the competition running.
The NRL is now tackling the logistical obstacles that come with being under level three restrictions.
Sydney-based players were forced back into the Covid bubble under level three protocols after the latest outbreak in the city’s eastern suburbs.
Head of football Graham Annesley told News Corp the game’s powerbrokers, including ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, were in daily meetings to ensure the continuation of the 2021 season.
“We are talking daily. Origin is fine, there are no dramas there. We now have to start looking at what the implications are for the resumption of the premiership the week after,” Annesley said.
“But there are no firm decisions that have been made yet.
“It’s about the logistics and how we get teams around the country, in and out of Queensland and in and out of NSW and how we do all that.
“As we saw last year, we will do whatever we have to do to keep the competition going.”
Last season, the NRL was forced to charter flights for teams to play interstate while borders were closed.
If the NSW border remains closed to Queensland, in particular, the NRL is faced with the same costly exercise as last season, where sides were flown in and out on game day.
The Sharks are scheduled to play at Suncorp Stadium next week, while the Titans are facing the Raiders in Canberra and the Cowboys take on the Knights in Newcastle.
Players based in greater Sydney are expected to be in the bubble until at least Tuesday. Under level three protocols players can only leave the house for training, exercise and food.
ORIGIN TICKETS REFUNDED AS BORDERS SNAP SHUT
About 2500 people will be offered State of Origin refunds after border restrictions caused havoc with people travelling to Queensland.
The NRL said they would anyone in a hotspot would be automatically offered a refund.
Anyone in NSW, even if they not in a hotspot, will be given a refund if they do not want to attend. Those people have to contact Ticketek.
It is expected the refunded tickets will go on sale on Friday afternoon. No-one in a hotspot will be able to purchase tickets.
Blues doctor stays home
NSW team doctor Nathan Gibbs will miss State of Origin II in Brisbane due to Sydney’s Covid restrictions.
Gibbs, the highly respected sports medico, lives in the Randwick Local Government Area and will not be permitted to cross into Queensland for Sunday night’s big game.
Randwick is one of seven Sydney LGA’s on the Queensland Government banned list.
It is understood the match would have been Gibbs’ 60th as NSW team doctor. He will now have to wait until Origin III in Sydney on July 14 to secure his milestone.
NSW has two doctors, Gibbs and Paul Annett, who will attend and work at the game.
The Blues will employ a locally-based second doctor to assist Annett on the night.
Based in Kingscliff, the NSW team will train at Cudgen on Thursday before travelling to Brisbane at lunchtime on Friday.
Blues management have been in constant dialogue with the NRL over any possible Covid restrictions or protocols.
“There are contingency plans in place but we don’t expect anything to change,” NSWRL chief executive, David Trodden said.
“We have been in constant communication with the NRL, who in turn have been in constant communication with the Queensland Government. They are confident nothing much will change. Nothing has changed as far as we’re concerned.”
V’landys: It could cost us millions
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said the upgrade in restrictions was imperative for the protection of the entire code.
“It’s to be cautious,’’ V’landys said of the restrictions.
“If players have gone away, we don’t want to interrupt their break. But in Sydney, those players will fall into the level three category.
“It’s only for a week — and it might be less than a week — but while there’s this uncertainty in our environment, we don’t want any risk.
“We want to protect the competition because it could us millions.’’
Taking every precaution necessary, every NSW State of Origin team member, including players and staff, were Covid-tested prior to flying to their training base at Kingscliff on the NSW far north coast.
The Blues crossed the NSW border into Queensland by landing at Coolangatta airport.
The team were required to provide a border passport before their bus ride back across NSW state lines and into Kingscliff.
Coach Brad Fittler’s men are attempting to wrap up the series in Queensland on Sunday and are staying in the same hotel and training facilities in Kingscliff that they last used under former coach Laurie Daley in 2017.
When the latest Sydney outbreak began, the NRL made moves to run a postcode check on every Sydney-based player — a move designed to protect the game’s showpiece, State of Origin.
Queensland has already shut the border to residents of some parts of Greater Sydney, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath saying anyone entering Queensland will need to apply for a border pass.
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