The NRL NT are continuing investigations into Palmerston Raiders’ alleged Covid-19 restrictions breach

INVESTIGATIONS continue into alleged Covid-19 restrictions breach during the Darwin lockdown which saw senior games postponed over the weekend

NRL NT general manager Nigel Roy said the alleged Covid restrictions breach was deeply disappointing.

INVESTIGATIONS continue into Palmerston Raiders’ alleged Covid-19 restrictions breach during the Darwin lockdown which saw senior games postponed over the weekend.

The NT News understands that the Palmerston Raiders allegedly held a training session on Thursday afternoon, a day before Covid restrictions were lifted from 1pm on ­Friday.

At the time the NT government had prohibited contact sport and training with the NRL NT disallowing any sanctioned team trainings before restrictions were lifted.

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When the league discovered the breach they took action to postpone all senior fixtures between Palmerston and Northern Sharks scheduled for July 10.

Other fixtures planned for the weekend went ahead as scheduled.

NRL NT general manager Nigel Roy said the matter was deeply disappointing for the league and that they were reaching the final stages of their investigation.

“We’re continuing to follow through with the investigation process and are waiting on the final response from the alleged club,” Roy said.

“Within our operations manual the possible penalties that we are allowed to hand out include fines, loss of competition points or suspensions of individuals or clubs.

“We’re absolutely disappointed.

“The NRL NT were following the lockdown directives handed down by the ­government as well as our own, which included no authorised or sanctioned team trainings.

“As a league we aspire to be the destination of choice for sport in the NT and see ourselves and our clubs as leaders in the community.

“Given their competitive nature, other clubs have sought information on the ongoing investigation as the majority of our clubs follow the rules and want an equal ­playing field.

“That is why we must come down hard on those that break our rules.”

Palmerston Raiders were sitting third in the A-grade competition after nine rounds with Northern Sharks in second prior to the postponed game.