Peter V’landys says NRL won’t be affected by Queensland border closure

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has the Midas touch this year and he’s revealed what Queensland’s border closure means for the NRL.

The NRL has already overcome plenty of obstacles this season.

Another spanner has been thrown into the works of the NRL season as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk shut her state’s border to Sydneysiders — but Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys isn’t concerned.

Palaszczuk said nobody from Sydney will be allowed into the Sunshine State from this weekend in an effort to protect her constituents against the spread of coronavirus.

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“Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hot spots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland,” she tweeted.

Speaking to reporters, Palaszczuk added: “We must protect Queenslanders. Your safety comes first and we are in extraordinary times at the moment.”

The announcement comes after 19 new COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in NSW overnight, but V’landys is confident the season won’t be derailed. Daily Telegraph rugby league writer David Riccio reported V’landys expects Sydney teams to continue travelling north as usual.

Just spoke to @NRL Peter V’Landys. Confident all Sydney teams will continue travel to QLD for matches, under the exemption Palaszcuk government granted several weeks ago. @telegraph_sport

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) July 29, 2020

Several weeks ago the NRL secured exemptions for Sydney teams to fly in and out of Queensland and V’landys believes that agreement will remain in place.

He also said given teams were recently forced back into their “bubbles”, only allowed to leave their homes to attend training and games, he doesn’t expect any problems with Queensland.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, V’landys said: “Nothing has changed. I don’t understand what the problem is.

“We had an exemption when we first put the protocols in and they were submitted and approved when the whole border was closed.

“Now they’re only closing Sydney. They’ve already closed it to hot spots in Sydney and we still had the exemption. All we had to do was reinstate the original (biosecurity) protocols, which we have done.

“Anything is possible in these days but I can’t understand how any (of the existing exemptions) will have changed when all of the protocols have already been approved.”

V’landys is confident the show will go on.

V’landys added he has no plans to relocate Queensland’s three NRL teams — plus Melbourne Storm, who are based on the Sunshine Coast — to NSW on the back of Palaszczuk’s announcement.

However, NRL.com reports NRL officials are in the process of seeking confirmation from the Queensland government the original exemption for Sydney teams still applies.

The Sharks are scheduled to fly to and from Brisbane on Friday night for their clash against the Broncos while Canberra is playing North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday.

Melbourne is slated to face Newcastle on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.