Coronavirus: NRL to lock fans out from Round 2

The NRL will play games behind closed doors from Round 2 because of coronavirus fears as Sharks players was tested but later cleared.

All Australian sports are set to go behind closed doors after prime minister Scott Morrison announced that gatherings of over 500 people will be banned as of Monday.

While good news for the launch of the the new North Queensland Stadium in Townsville, it will be fleeting as NRL CEO Todd Greenberg announced that all games from round 2 would go behind closed doors.

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Greenberg said the authorities’ advice was that “through the weekend and right through to Sunday, that we’re OK to have fans at our games and that’s what we’ll do.

“If the government had given us admvied to close down the stadiums down, we would have done that. But quite simply in my discussions with government, they are quite open and prepared for games to continue this weekend.”

He also said it will have a “significant financial impact”.

Concerns over COVID-19 have intensified over the past few days with fears the NRL may be required to postpone its season.

NRL.com has even written that “the future of the 2020 Telstra Premiership is clouded” after the announcement.

“It is recommended to us that we move to a position by Monday that we advise against from Monday that gatherings of 500 or more,” Prime Minister Morrison said at a media conference on Friday afternoon.

“We’ve always known the number of cases will rise. We will get through this and be able to get through this with a world-class health system.

“The goal here is straightforward - it is simply to slow the rate of transmission of coronavirus in Australia.”

Cronulla's Bronson Xerri has reportedly been tested for coronavirus.

Morrison also confirmed his plans to attend Cronulla’s clash with South Sydney on Saturday and that it may be his “last chance to see my beloved Sharks for a while” but later backtracked after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was confirmed to have contracted the virus.

It comes after Sharks centre Bronson Xerri was tested for coronavirus on Friday night, but on Saturday morning, the club confirmed he had been given the all-clear after returning a negative result.

The NRL has set up a coronavirus sub-committee to explore all options and ramifications for clubs if games are to be played to empty stadiums or the season is postponed.

The Cowboys launched their season against Brisbane at their new stadium in Townsville, but couldn’t give their home fans a win as the Broncos emerged as victors.

The Raiders hosted Gold Coast last night and won 24-6.

Meanwhile, Souths coach Wayne Bennett, whose team hosts the Sharks on Saturday, said he would be happy to play matches behind closed doors.

“I don’t think we need to play in front of crowds. We train pretty hard and we never get a crowd at training,” he said.

“I know players well enough to know they are all competitive. If you tell them that no one is going to be there but it is going to be televised live throughout Australia then they will do their job.

“Crowds are important and they create atmosphere and all of that but it is a difficult time at the moment so if the decision is made to play without crowds then at home you’d still get the footy and I’m sure Channel 9 and Fox won’t lose any viewers over it.”

Parramatta and Canterbury played the opening game of the NRL season at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night in front of a crowd of 21,363.

Before the game, the NRL announced health and safety measures for players and staff to prevent further spread of coronavirus.

Players were advised to minimise handshakes and physical interactions with fans, while clubs were encouraged to minimise player contact with community organisations.

Restrictions were also placed on entry into dressing rooms.