NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says league preparing plans for finals amid worsening Qld, Sydney Covid-19 situation

The NRL is hopeful it can play the grand final before a ‘full house’, even if that means relocating the game to where it’s never been played before.

Melbourne Storm players could have the opportunity to defend their NRL title at home. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The NRL is prepared to relocate the finals series to Melbourne in order to play “safely in front of crowds” should the Sydney and South East Queensland Covid-19 situation continue to worsen.

The NRL relocated the season to Queensland last month as the Delta outbreak gripped Sydney, but new fears that the Sunshine State’s snap lockdown could be extended beyond the three days has thrown the NRL into contingency planning mode.

The Queensland chief health officer on Saturday announced all professional sport was to be suspended during the lockdown. By Sunday, the NRL had come up with a plan to ensure games could go ahead, albeit without crowds.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said all options were on the table in terms of planning for the grand final.

While the grand final is still weeks away, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo told the Today show on Monday that “all options are on the table”.

“We want to play the grand final, which is pinnacle of the season … What a tough season this has been for us all,” he said.

When asked whether the league would consider playing the finals at the MCG, Mr Abdo said: “We want to play it safely in front of crowds. All options are on the table.”

Round 20 of the NRL was played at an empty Suncorp Stadium due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Picture: Handout/NRL Photos via Getty Images

“We have certainly had a lot of interest from a number of different states. And we have got some time between now and October to see what unfolds and where it’s going to be safe to play,” he said.

“It would be terrific for us to play a grand final in front of a full house.”

With the threat of Queensland’s lockdown being extended beyond Tuesday, Mr Abdo said the NRL had a plan it was “working on constantly”.

The NRL worked closely with Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young to ensure games could go ahead on the weekend without crowds amid the Covid-19 lockdown. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

“We will be ready if the lockdown is extended. We have these set of protocols now, level 4-plus we call them,” he said.

“Players are getting tested daily … This is so dynamic, we have to be ready for everything.”

The league has been plagued with controversy over bubble breaches since the move to Queensland, and Mr Abdo said he had communicated with players and officials about how much was on the line.

“Everyone understands what’s at stake,” he said.

“Yes, we have seen breaches, but they are isolated cases amongst a huge group of people doing the right thing.”

Originally published as NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says league preparing plans for finals amid worsening Qld, Sydney Covid-19 situation