NRL announces 20-round season schedule with 25th October grand final

In anticipation of its proposed restart on 28th May, the NRL has announced a 20-round restructure of its 2020 competition.

Having finalised negotiations with broadcasters this afternoon, the rescheduled draw includes the two rounds already completed, meaning an additional 18 will be played should the season return as planned at the end of next month.

The NRL also announced that the grand final will be played on 25th October, with the lucrative State of Origin series to be held in the weeks following.

With the breakdown of those 18 rounds yet to be announced, the location for the NRL grand final has not been confirmed. With the SCG having been confirmed as the venue for the grand final before the Coronavirus pandemic, the 25th October date will clash with the men's T20 World Cup.

The development comes after more than a week of talks involving the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and its broadcast partners the Nine Network and Fox Sports.

Commenting on the agreement, ARLC Chairman, Peter V'landys stated “today is a landmark day for rugby league in 2020.

"This is a great outcome for our players, fans, partners and stakeholders."

The resumption of competition will see the Warriors relocating from New Zealand to Australia for an indefinite period due to travel restrictions.

As reported by the ABC, the NRL is hoping the Warriors will arrive in Australia on Sunday and self-quarantine for two weeks in Tamworth in northern NSW.

However, the club has yet to officially receive exemption to enter Australia, or been given permission to train while in isolation.

All 16 clubs have been told to prepare for a return to squad training on Monday, giving teams three weeks to train before the season resumes.

With the NRL having promised strict adherence to Coronavirus protocols, today also saw it handout hefty fines to four players - Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Nathan Cleary - for "bringing the game into disrepute" by flouting Coronavirus social distancing laws over the weekend.

NSW Police also charged Mitchell and Addo-Carr with firearms offences.