NRL Covid: Drastic measures adopted for Covid disaster

Fans will be locked out of most NRL games as the competition braces for huge upheaval due to Sydney’s lockdown.

Cameron Munster talk to the referee in action during Game 1 of the 2021 State of Origin Series between Queensland and NSW at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, in Townsville. Pics Adam Head

The NRL will revert to their historic Project Apollo restrictions which will include no crowds at Sydney stadiums to save the competition from shutting down.

The NRL informed all 16 club CEOs of the decision to implement level three COVID-19 regulations in the wake of the Greater Sydney lockdown announced on Saturday.

Charter flights, clean and dirty zones at grounds and bubble life will be implemented for all players and staff.

The NRL is investigating the possible shift of some Sydney games over the next weeks. The Roosters had already moved their SCG clash with Melbourne - the opening match of Round 15 — to Newcastle.

Next Friday’s night’s Penrith-Parramatta derby will be played behind closed doors.

The NRL will work with the Victorian and Queensland governments in an attempt to have some crowds attend matches hosted by Storm, Broncos, Titans and Cowboys.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo will leave Queensland immediately as the Maroons and NSW prepare to enter Covid clean zones for State of Origin II on Sunday night.

The NRL is returning to last year’s strict game-day Covid requirements with State of Origin’s 34 combatants from Queensland and NSW to undergo temperature checks ahead of the return bout at Suncorp Stadium.

The NSW Origin team will go into a bubble from 1am in accordance with Covid hot spots affecting nominated Sydney areas, while the NRL is in talks with the Queensland government in relation to the Maroons, who are staying at a Gold Coast hotel.

Peter V'landys and Andrew Abdo will leave Queensland after arriving to attend State of Origin fixtures. Picture: Getty Images.

V’landys and Abdo arrived on Queensland soil two days ago to attend the women’s and men’s Origin fixtures, but they will fly out tonight to ensure they adhere to the Covid crackdown.

V’landys is adamant State of Origin II is not in jeopardy with Blues and Maroons stars to enter the game-day Level 3 clean zones enacted for last year’s NRL premiership.

“The Origin teams will be going back to clean zones, we are going back to Level 3 protocols,” he said.

“We are still talking with the Queensland government on the other requirements, but we are confident everything else will be fine.

“The Queensland government is assisting us every way they can and there will be further meetings.

“The NSW team will go into a bubble, but with Queensland it’s still to be determined.

“The one certainty is we will be going into clean and dirty zones for game day.

“On the night, we will go back to what was required last year where players will undergo temperature checks, washing their hands, no contact with the media, all that sort of stuff.”

V’landys and Abdo were in Queensland to attend State of Oriin fixtures. Picture: Getty Images.

V’landys was due to hold formal meetings with the three NRL expansion hopefuls on Monday in Brisbane.

The formal presentations will still go ahead with three ARL Commissioners in attendance, while V’landys and Abdo will participate in discussions with the Firehawks, Jets and Dolphins.

“Peter Beattie will remain for the expansion meetings with the bid teams,” he said.

“Those meetings will proceed, but it will be done by video conference.

“Peter Beattie, Kate Jones and Megan Davis will be there live, but myself, Andrew Abdo and the other assessment committee will not be in attendance.

“Peter Beattie will remain because he is not affected by the areas deemed a hot spot.

“The NRL offices are in the Randwick precinct and I work in the CBD, so myself and Andrew will have to go (back to Sydney).”

The Panthers have made the tough decision to refund tickets to their local derby against Parramatta next Friday due to Sydney’s Covid-19 spike.

On the verge of a sold-out clash against their neighbouring rivals, the Panthers have been forced to adhere to government regulations by reducing the stadium’s capacity to a maximum of 50 per cent.

That includes one person per four-square metres allowed to view the match on the grassed-hill area.

Penrith has refunded fans who had tickets to its derby against Parramatta.

The Roosters have moved their next match to Newcastle as Sydney’s COVID-19 cluster continues to impact the NRL.

The Roosters announced their Round 16 clash with Melbourne Storm would now be played at McDonald Jones Stadium next Thursday.

“The people of the Hunter Region love rugby league so it was an easy call to take our Round 16 home game to Newcastle,” said Roosters head coach Trent Robinson.

The Storm and Roosters are headed to Newcastle next Thursday.

Head of football Graham Annesley told News Corp the game’s powerbrokers, including ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, were in daily meetings to ensure the continuation of the 2021 season.

“We are talking daily. Origin is fine, there are no dramas there. We now have to start looking at what the implications are for the resumption of the premiership the week after,” Annesley said.

“But there are no firm decisions that have been made yet.

“It’s about the logistics and how we get teams around the country, in and out of Queensland and in and out of NSW and how we do all that.

“As we saw last year, we will do whatever we have to do to keep the competition going.”

Last season, the NRL was forced to charter flights for teams to play interstate while borders were closed.

Fans will be refunded for tickets to Origin II after being locked out of Brisbane.

NSW forward Liam Martin is all masked up at Sydney Airport. Picture: Dylan Coker

Taking every precaution necessary, every NSW State of Origin team member, including players and staff, were Covid-tested prior to flying to their training base at Kingscliff on the NSW far north coast.

The Blues crossed the NSW border into Queensland by landing at Coolangatta airport.

The team were required to provide a border passport before their bus ride back across NSW state lines and into Kingscliff.

Coach Brad Fittler’s men are attempting to wrap up the series in Queensland on Sunday and are staying in the same hotel and training facilities in Kingscliff that they last used under former coach Laurie Daley in 2017.

When the latest Sydney outbreak began, the NRL made moves to run a postcode check on every Sydney-based player — a move designed to protect the game’s showpiece, State of Origin.

Queensland has already shut the border to residents of some parts of Greater Sydney, with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath saying anyone entering Queensland will need to apply for a border pass.

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

FULL REPORT is here