Peter V’landys aiming for NRL crowds to return in July

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has boldly suggested the NRL is aiming for capped crowds to return in less than six weeks.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has boldly suggested the NRL is aiming for crowds to return in less than six weeks.

Rugby league boss Peter V’landys has set another ambitious target for the game ahead of the NRL’s resumption, saying he wants crowds in stadiums from July 1st.

With his goal of getting the NRL back underway by May 28th set to be realised on Thursday when the Brisbane Broncos host the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium, the ARL Commission chairman is hoping to get fans at grounds in just over a month.

“You are allowed so many people so we will start looking at that with the biosecurity measures in the coming weeks,” V’landys told News Corp Australia.

“And I am not saying capacity crowds. I have to stress capped crowds. That is one way you can reward the members that have stuck firm.”

V’landys says getting crowds at games is the “last puzzle” in managing the competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the lockdown, round one of the 2020 premiership was played in front of crowds, but spectators were not permitted for round two.

Potential attendances would depend on the size of venues, with V’landys conceding social distancing regulations will play a role in just how many people will be allowed in.

“In ANZ you might be able to get 20,000 with social distancing, whereas somewhere like Kogarah you might get 5000,” V’landys said.

“I am only guessing these figures, but it is absolutely on the radar. That is the next challenge.”

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.

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The New South Wales Government announced this week pubs could reopen with up to 50 patrons from June 1st. As coronavirus restrictions are slowly lifted across the country, V’landys sees no reason why having capped crowds at the NRL is not a possibility.

“We based our return on analysis and information on infection rates and how the coronavirus really caused the damage it did,” V’landys told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“When you look at it, 60 per cent came from offshore and even today the four positives all came from overseas.

“You take the Ruby Princess out and that’s less risk again. So in real terms, if the infection rate stays as low as it does and nothing new is coming in from overseas, the risk is going to be pretty low.

“So why wouldn't be have crowds? We’ll do that in the same fashion we did with the return of the game.

“The next test for us is once they relax the measures, we want to see in the next three weeks if the infection rate is altered in any fashion. If it hasn’t, we'll be pushing very hard for crowds … capped crowds.”

– With AAP