NSW NRL clubs and Canberra Raiders to relocate to Queensland to counter NSW COVID-19 restrictions

The NRL has announced that its 12 NSW and ACT based clubs will relocate to south east Queensland for one month due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak in Greater Sydney.

Following the decision to relocate State of Origin Game III from Newcastle to the Gold Coast, an emergency meeting of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has taken the decision for its 10 NSW-based clubs plus the New Zealand Warriors and Canberra Raiders to relocate to dedicated Queensland hubs and play matches out of either Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Clubs will begin moving into Queensland by Wednesday with each club permitted a maximum of 41 players and staff while in their hubs.

The three Queensland clubs and the Melbourne Storm, who are based on the Sunshine Coast, will continue to play home matches out of their current home cities.

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

A revised match schedule for the next four rounds, and the location of these fixtures, will be announced during the coming week.

In a statement released in the wake of recorded cases of COVID-19 continued to rise, ARLC Chairman, Peter V'landys “the Commission has conducted an extensive risk assessment and it is clear from the current data trends that the risk to the competition is too great to continue playing in NSW right now.

"We are seeing close and casual contacts with links to our game on an almost daily basis.

“Queensland presents much lower risk. The Commission is doing everything we can to keep the competition going.

"By keeping the competition going we keep people employed and ensure the players continue to be paid at their current rate.

"Rugby league is also an escapism for people during difficult times and it's important we do everything we can so our fans can continue to watch rugby league every week especially whilst in lockdown.

“These are very difficult decisions.

“I feel for the players who have to leave their homes for a period.

“We will not keep players in Queensland any longer than they need to be.

“We hope it is only for a month, but if it needs to be longer, it will be.

“We’re doing this to protect their livelihoods.

“This will also have a commercial impact on clubs.

“I have assured all clubs that the NRL will ensure they remain financially strong during this period.

“The NRL has found extensive efficiencies and commercial revenue over the last year which ensured the game is financially stronger than it otherwise would have been.”

Image: The Melbourne Storm playing at Sunshine Coast Stadium during the 2020 NRL season. Credit: Sunshine Coast Council.