As the continuing uncertainty of the latest COVID-19 outbreak affects Sydney, one thing has become certain: the National Rugby League must relocate before it’s too late.
In Sydney itself, games are going ahead without crowds, NRL teams already under stage 4 protocols and the entire greater Sydney area, including the Central Coast and Wollongong, are under lockdown.
In the past two weeks, around 20 NRL players, coaches and referees have been stood down due to breaches, either deliberately breaking protocol or just as a result of having visited an exposure site.
It seems almost inevitable that someone within the bubble could contract the virus, which would cause chaos for the competition.
Two Sydney club games have already been relocated to Newcastle due to government restrictions. Even on Saturday night, State of Origin Game 3, already moved from Sydney to Newcastle, had to be relocated again to the Gold Coast due to further tightening of government restrictions in New South Wales.
With this in mind, the NRL must relocate the nine Sydney clubs, as well as the Warriors, in order to protect the competition.
The two most likely locations at this stage would be regional NSW and south-east Queensland.
With restrictions still in place right around NSW, it appears unlikely that regional centres like Mudgee, Dubbo or Wagga Wagga would be a viable option.
Even if they were, the cost of relocating all the teams to various regional centres, as well as the additional flights and transportation of gear, would likely be too great anyway.
This leaves south-east Queensland as the only likely hub for the NRL.
They already hosted the AFL in 2020, so have experience looking after nearly an entire competition.
There are plenty of venues in that region that can host additional matches.
Suncorp Stadium and Cbus Super Stadium would obviously have to handle the bulk of the matches, but games can also be taken to other venues, such as Clive Berghofer Field in Toowoomba, Marley Brown Oval in Gladstone and Sunshine Coast Stadium, all venues which have hosted first grade in recent seasons.
Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe is also a prospective future venue.
Other options slightly further afield would be available Browne Park in Rockhampton, BB Print Stadium in Mackay and Barlow Park in Cairns, as well as the obvious Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
Depending on restrictions in northern NSW, Oakes Oval in Lismore and C.ex Coffs International Stadium could potentially be used, if need be.
For the purposes of training, plenty of local Intrust Super Cup grounds could be shared.
North Ipswich Reserve, Pizzey Park in Burleigh, Langlands Park in Coorparoo, Davies Park in West End, Kougari Oval in Manly, Bishop Park in Nundah and even Glenholme Park in Toowoomba are all potential options.
These options are also better for the NRL financially as it will mean less movement of people and less transportation of equipment, such as those for broadcasting the games.
However, all these ideas will amount to nothing if the NRL wait too long.
Whichever way the NRL choose to continue the season going forward, they have to bite the bullet and get out of Sydney before they lose the competition completely.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think there's huge upside to teams moving to Qld for a while Rob including all of the reasons you mentioned. Hopefully too with everyone living under the same roof so to speak, they might stop the stupidity that's happened in the past week
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
This is what most people in capital cities don't understand, many rural areas that have not had COVID in the community do not want outsiders coming to town and putting them at risk.
Rob
Guest
Not sure but I think teams maybe playing basing in Townsville and playing in Cairns, Mackay, would generate 7k plus fans to off set costs. Sunshine Coast with games maybe in Rocky, Gympie and Longreach just to spread the love. Also it’s an opportunity to visit kids and fans that possibly have no ability to see these players.
Rob
Guest
I’m more concerned about my Cowboys travelling to NSW playing a Sydney team and then heading back to NQ for bringing the virus into the community. If all teams are away from areas of virus transmission the risk of protocol breach’s are less problematic. If the virus was an issue in my community I wouldn’t want team moving in and out of the area.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was being really optimistic when I wrote the NRL would have to play in locations out of Sydney for a month. It would not be unrealistic for the comp to stay out of Sydney/NSW for the rest of the season. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the comp shortened because the costs of having so many teams playing, training and living away from home would be enormous.
Walter Black
Guest
It took Melbourne 3 months to go from 800/day to zero. Sydney on 77 today but the problem is that Sydney is still going up.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
Would those area's want the risk of COVID brought into their communities? I dont think that the QLD government would invite the risk to the state, whether it is real or not, it would not be good for publicity. The only way it will happen is if Queen Anastasia can announce that the Grand Final will be in QLD on a regular basis.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
and add to that, why would the QLD government trust the NRL to do the right thing, they have proven in the last week that they cannot be trusted as a group to comply with the rules around COVID.
Dionysus
Guest
plus the Origin we lost but it seems we will take that anywhere other than Melbourne. Last week, the Roosters v Storm match had to be relocated, did they take it to Melbourne where we haven't had a game since round 8 ? Oh no, lets take it to Newcastle where they have had a game every other week for the last 2 years. The NRL is looking more like the NSW league every day.
Paul
Roar Guru
The basic premise of this piece makes sense and I'm confident V'landys and Abdo are looking at options right now. I'm also guessing their in constant touch with the relevant authorities in NSW, Qld and the other States to make sure, when they have to move, as seems likely, they only have to do this once. I'm guessing too, there won't be any footy in Sydney after today's game for at least a month.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Last week PVL assured us that Project Apollo had a plan B all the way to plan Z and I'm sure they will go early and go hard shortly. Exactly how it looks will be interesting, as well as public trust that the players are going to do the right thing. Can I just request the Dragons are not based in Nth Queensland please.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
And here we go again, for Melbourne. Just announced we will, finally, have a game at AAMI Park again & another move is necessary. It's beginning to feel as though Sunshine Coast Storm is a reality, as games in Melbourne have been as scarce as hens' teeth over the last two seasons. Being a long distance fan is starting to lose its "charm".
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Seriously, the NRL have known since lockdown this may happen. They knew the lockdown was going to happen when the Roosters and Melbourne match was moved to Newcastle before lockdown was announced. South's and Cowboys at Newcastle and referees being in contact with COVID.
Rob
Guest
The Warriors and Storm were required to relocate for long extended periods to keep the competition running. Isn’t it time NSW made a sacrifice for good of the game? Seriously you could have 3 extra teams based in Melbourne, 3 in Brisbane, 3 in Townsville, 3 Sunshine Coast and just tweak the draw to limit travel for the next 6 rounds with those teams playing each other?
TeamAustralia
Roar Rookie
Why should Qld agree to host NRL Clubs? The NRL cannot guarantee players will abide by bubble rules. Hell, the idiotic STG players won't even sign a piece of paper stating no other people attended their Anti Bubble party. Maybe the game needs to close down for a month and players stood down without pay?
Bob Hutchison
Guest
Isn't it too late already? Would not all the players from the greater Sydney area have to self isolate for 14 days? Fair dinkum, they're a law unto themselves And I and his mad mate. They do not care about the fans, just their cash cows.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Couple of extra magic rounds this year might be the way.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
with the way these players are carrying on, they'll be forced to relocate, or shut down completely
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Hey Nick if the NRL could pull off such a plan they should have a crack at Covid, Climate Change and World Peace.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Play all the matches each round in a city that has no NRL teams, then move it to another city without any NRL teams and keep doing that around the country for the remainder of the season. Geelong, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Rockhampton, Hobart, Launceston, Darwin , Adelaide, Perth, Make every round a magic round!