Australia

NRL clubs set to be rushed into Queensland hub amid NSW COVID-19 outbreak


The NRL is preparing to shift clubs into south-east Queensland for at least a month, following an emergency meeting of the Australian Rugby League Commission. 

A worsening COVID-19 outbreak in NSW forced the move, which will be confirmed with NRL clubs in a telephone hook-up with chief executives on Sunday night.

It is understood clubs could be moved into Queensland by Wednesday, allowing two days for squads to finalise their bubble rosters including players and staff.

Allowances will eventually be made for families to join the hubs.

The call was made after NSW recorded 77 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian anticipating the numbers “will be greater than 100” on Monday.

It triggered a swift response from the NRL.

The NRL has already been forced to move Wednesday’s State of Origin III from Newcastle to the Gold Coast because the NSW government does not want crowds at a major event while dealing with alarming case numbers.

The NRL has been preparing for a worst-case scenario for weeks.

Players are already under strict level-four restrictions with several breaches adding to the difficulty of negotiating with state governments for travel permits across borders.

It is a frustration for not only the NRL but for the clubs and players doing the right thing.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson backed the NRL to make the right call to keep the game running, whatever it takes.

Last year, the entire competition was put on hold for two months while the NRL formed agreements with state governments and created biosecurity guidelines to re-start the game.

“Anything we can do to keep the game going, tell us and we’ll do it,” Robinson said.

“We know how important it is, most people lost income, the players had to reduce income, they’ve reduced salary caps and office staff went onto JobKeeper. We need to keep this game going.

“I don’t want to move out of my home with my partner and kids and not see them but if it means that our whole industry, not just the players and coaches, if everybody can work and sustain the income that comes into the game so all of us can work, then we’ll do what we have to.”

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AAP



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