Brisbane lockdown: What it means for the AFL and NRL as Broncos move to Sydney

Another footy season has been rocked by COVID as Brisbane’s snap lockdown forced the Broncos to relocate and left the Lions in limbo.

The Brisbane Lions are going to have to do some more clothes shopping.

The AFL team were left stranded in Melbourne over the weekend after a new COVID-19 threat emerged in their home state.

Players were spotted out buying clothes to wear after originally intending to fly home the day after Friday night’s match against Geelong — and they’ll need to stock up again after Queensland recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, including four locally acquired infections.

It’s prompted a snap three-day lockdown in Brisbane after all of the new cases were confirmed as the “highly infectious” mutant UK strain of the virus.

“That lockdown will be for greater Brisbane, which is Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands and will commence at 5:00pm this afternoon,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

It leaves not only the AFL but the NRL fixture in a precarious position as league officials scramble to pull off this weekend’s matches.

Here’s where each of the codes stands:

NRL: Broncos relocating to Sydney

Just when Broncos fans had something to cheer about … (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The NRL has decided to relocate the Broncos, who will fly out of Brisbane for the next two weeks to avoid being caught up in the unfolding COVID-19 situation.

Kevin Walters’ men will fly to Sydney on Monday afternoon and set up a mini-hub for a fortnight, remaining in the Harbour City until at least after their round five game against South Sydney.

Friday’s match between the Broncos and Storm in Melbourne is still expected to go ahead as planned, with Brisbane to fly into Victoria from Sydney before the match.

Interim Broncos CEO Neil Monaghan said: “The players and staff have taken the changes in their stride, and while it’s tough on many of our team with young families, they are keen to get on the road and prepare for a great challenge against the Storm.

“We will then stay in Sydney to get ready for the Rabbitohs game, which will ensure the continuity of the competition.

“Coach Kev Walters and all the players and staff are seeing this time on the road as a great opportunity to further strengthen their team bond, especially coming off the back of a morale boosting win.”

The Australian’s Brent Read reports the NRL is considering a contingency plan of moving Brisbane’s game against the Storm to Sydney, and making Friday night a double header along with the Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs clash, if any complications arise.

“NRL believed to be considering a double header at ANZ Stadium on Friday night as part of their contingency planning,” Read tweeted. “Would involve moving Brisbane-Melbourne to Sydney, although would be a last resort and only if forced on them by government protocols.”

The Cowboys are also slated to play the Sharks at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday and the NRL was considering chartered flights directly from Townsville.

AFL: Lions will have to play in Melbourne

Mitch Robinson and the Lions are in a spot of bother. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Brisbane Lions’ premiership hopes are fading by the day as they prepare to fight out of an 0-2 hole on the road.

A shock defeat to Sydney in round one and a one-point loss to Geelong has left the flag fancies behind the eight ball and they now face the prospect of playing their round three match against Collingwood in Melbourne instead of Brisbane.

The AFL has announced Thursday night’s match between the Lions and the Magpies will be moved from the Gabba to Marvel Stadium.

It’s a blow to Brisbane because the Easter Thursday blockbuster against one of the league’s biggest clubs is one of its largest money-spinners for the year. But club bosses will hope to recoup the losses in round 22, when the Lions-Magpies clash previously scheduled for Marvel will now be held at the Gabba.

Brisbane, which trained in Port Melbourne on Monday morning and had expected to fly home this afternoon before Ms Palaszczuk’s announcement, is likely to spend three rounds on the road because its week five match is against the Bulldogs in Bendigo.

AFL journalist Jon Ralph reported four Lions players flew into Melbourne as reinforcements, and will be able to join the team after getting a test, isolating and receiving a negative result.

The AFL may also need to consider relocating the Gold Coast Suns if the situation in Brisbane spreads to other parts of Queensland. The Suns are scheduled to play the Crows in Adelaide on Friday night.

— with foxsports.com.au