Coronavirus NRL: QLD teams will not be forced to relocate
A decision on the fate of the four Queensland based NRL teams has been made after urgent talks between the Premier and Peter Vlandys – and it will come at a cost for the Broncos, Storm, Titans and Cowboys.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NRL is celebrating a major COVID victory with the Queensland government agreeing to keep their borders open and support the Broncos, Titans, Cowboys and Melbourne remaining in the Sunshine State.
News Corp can reveal Queensland’s three NRL clubs will not be forced to relocate to NSW – nor be ordered into self-isolation in hotels – following urgent talks between ARLC boss Peter V’landys and Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The Storm will be allowed to remain in Queensland with the Melbourne team currently in lockdown at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast ahead of their game against the Titans on Friday night.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
It is a huge win for the NRL, which feared moving Queensland players to Sydney or, at worst, the Telstra Premiership being suspended if Palaszczuk beefed-up the state’s border controls following COVID infection spikes in NSW and Victoria.
“It is a huge relief,” V’landys said.
“The Queensland premier has been magnificent.”
But there will be a price to pay for Queensland’s NRL stars, who will be asked to return to the strict Apollo COVID guidelines which were enacted upon their NSW counterparts on Tuesday.
Speculation was rife Queensland’s three teams would be ordered into 14 days of self-isolation in Brisbane hotels after playing any match against NSW-based clubs in the coming weeks and months.
The Broncos play the Tigers in Sydney on Friday night, while the Cowboys will meet the Panthers in Penrith on Sunday – a scenario would which have triggered immediate self-isolation over the weekend.
But urgent talks between V’landys and Palaszczuk have allayed fears Queensland’s teams will be ordered to move to Sydney – for now.
The Queensland government will allow Broncos, Cowboys and Titans players to remain at home but, like NSW-based NRL cohorts, they are now banned from attending pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Rather than relocate the Queensland teams, the NRL will order select players in NSW to undergo COVID tests every 72 hours if they are due to play the Broncos, Cowboys, Titans or Storm.
The NRL will propose coronavirus checks every three days for 19 players who live in and around the COVID hotspot of Casula in Sydney’s south-west.
That will give the NRL and government authorities comfort Queensland players and millions of residents are not at risk of infection.
“This is a big win for us,” V’landys said.
“The players will have quarantine at home, which means there will be some strict protocols at home, but at least they won’t have to go to hotels.
“We are very appreciative of the premier’s support, we know we are in a difficult situation but she is doing everything possible not to move the Queensland teams which is great.”
V’landys remains hopeful the NRL premiership is not in jeopardy and urged all players to do the right thing.
“The Queensland players can have some normality but they must follow the rules,” he said.
“If players were forced to isolate in hotel rooms for 14 days, we will shift all the teams out of Queensland, but I’m confident it won’t happen.”
MORE NRL
NRL 2020: Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers players sent for COVID-19 tests
NRL Round 20 tips: Cowboys to roll Broncos as wooden spoon looms
NRL 2020: Michael Maguire blames Anthony Seibold for Rabbitohs sacking
“If players were forced to isolate in hotel rooms for 14 days, we will shift all the teams out of Queensland, but I’m confident it won’t happen.”
Originally published as Coronavirus NRL: QLD teams will not be forced to relocate