Queensland teams gear for NSW shift

North Queensland are preparing contingency plans to base themselves at Sydney Olympic Park.

Cowboys backrower Jason Taumalolo makes a break during the round two clash against the Bulldogs at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium last month Picture: AAP

North Queensland are preparing contingency plans to base themselves at Sydney Olympic Park from next week as they wait for the Queensland government to hand down a decision on the immediate future of elite sports.

The Cowboys are hopeful rather than optimistic that they will be able to remain in Townsville when clubs return to training on May 5 — the day after the previously earmarked return date which has been rescheduled as an information day.

However, North Queensland head of football Peter Parr is also putting in place plans to base the side at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct should a training ban remain in place in Queensland.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk held “positive” talks with ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys on Tuesday and has indicated the rules around elite sports would be discussed at a national cabinet meeting on Friday.

The Queensland clubs as well as the Melbourne Storm are crossing their fingers that at that meeting, the rules will be relaxed enough to allow them to at least train at their existing bases.

All four sides, along with the Warriors, have also begun planning around alternative training venues should they be forced to relocate to NSW.

The Cowboys have reached out to the NSW Rugby League to discuss using their centre of excellence in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, Parr well versed with the area through his role with the NSW State of Origin side.

As well as the Blues’ Centre of Excellence, the club would also have access to modern hotels that would allow them to isolate from the wider community.

It is understood the Broncos are looking at Kingscliff on the far north NSW coast while the Titans are likely to cross the border and train at Tweed Heads.

They are hopeful that even if the training ban remains in place, they may be able to train in NSW and then return to their homes later that day. The Storm are likely to be based at Albury on the NSW side of the border, their hope that they may be only forced out of their AAMI Park headquarters for a short time.

The next few days will be crucial as the national cabinet prepares to discuss the situation for national sports such as rugby league and the AFL.

“I had a very positive meeting yesterday with the NRL,” Palaszczuk said on Wednesday. “What we have agreed is that their health experts would be speaking with ours and looking through that plan. National Cabinet is meeting Friday to look at principles around how elite sports can operate. We’ll be having further discussions Friday afternoon.

“It may be next week (before a decision is made). The key for a lot of these sporting codes is training so we need to prioritise that.”

The NRL has been locked in talks with state and federal governments for weeks, having identified the need for government support to facilitate the game’s return. Their cause hasn’t been helped in recent days by the poor behaviour of their players when it comes to self-isolation, although they remain optimistic their plans won’t be derailed.

The Warriors remain key to the puzzle coming together and although Prime Minister Scott Morrison late on Wednesday said the Commonwealth had made no decision on the access of the New Zealand side into Australia, there is a level of confidence within the NRL that they will get the green light. They will base themselves in Tamworth during their isolation period before they likely move to Sydney when the season proper resumes. It is expected that games will be played out of centralised venues to begin with, Bankwest Stadium and Leichhardt Oval the early favourites to host rugby league’s return.

By restricting the number of venues, the NRL would be able to more easily ensure they adhere to biosecurity protocols. It is understood the broadcasters are also in favour of playing at less venues, preferably those which are easier on the viewing eye when there are no spectators.

Palaszczuk indicated it could be some time before the borders were opened, meaning it could be some time before the Queensland clubs are able to host games.

“Not straight away,” she said.

“We would have to see long periods of almost zero (new cases) before we get to that point.”