All Sydney teams plus the Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders and the NZ Warriors will all have to spend the next month in South East Queensland due to the covid outbreak in Sydney.
When I found out that Game 3 was being moved from Newcastle to Gold Coast, as a proud Novacastrian, I wasn’t the happiest guy on the block.
However, after some serious thinking, it’s the right thing to do. Us Hunter Valley residents would have loved for the historic match to take place here but due to the circumstances, instead of expressing our frustrations let’s be grateful it still will take place – even if it’s not in Newcastle.
With all the low risk numbers in South East Queensland, I totally applaud how quick witted the NRL have been in making this move. Think like this, I would rather the game be relocated to somewhere safe than the season to be postponed again.
Every time I watch a game of football, I don’t worry about COVID nor anything else because watching the Game 1 love to me is like a distraction.
I can just sit back, relax and enjoy watching my favourite game. While it does mean that the Knights’ next home game won’t be in Newcastle, all we can do is hope the numbers in NSW go down so we can see them take on Gold Coast at home in Round 24.
This isn’t just for Newcastle fans, it’s also for all the other fans of NSW teams who are affected. Parramatta fans won’t see their team at home any time soon, same goes for Panthers supporters, Manly, South Sydney, Easts and all the other NSW based teams. For the Raiders fans, I do hope they somehow can incorporate their infamous Viking Clap.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
All us fans in NSW want to see football return here in 2021. All that means we got to do is simply obey the rules in place. I don’t agree with some particularly having to wear a masks while training. Doing heavy squats while wearing the mask is a nightmare but if dealing with said nightmare will help contribute to ensuring the numbers can drop, then it will be worth it.
I know it’s not going to be easy and some of us are pretty disappointed but there will come a day in which this will all be over. We will then move on from it all and live our lives as we should.
While I will miss travelling to games and attending them, I do understand why it can’t happen any time soon. While travelling to Wagga Wagga with two of my closest friends was fun, all of us just were laughing about the stupidest things imaginable and enjoying the trip, for now that will be on hold.
There will be a time us fans of rugby league can enjoy the attendance of games once again. All we got to do is work not just towards getting a covid-safe environment, let’s aim big and make it a covid-gone environment.
This is more than just one Knights fan preaching the message to his fellow Knights supporters, this is a rugby league fan preaching the message to all those who love the game regardless of which team you follow.
So Roarers, do you approve of this relocation?
Joey
Guest
I only see it benefiting the teams moving north into warmer weather, while Storm get home field, home crowds but staying at home in cold of Melbourne. The Sydney teams automatically have cut their away travel time, except to play against Storm (an extra hour each way), while Storm have to travel up to Qld 4 times in 8 weeks, including the last week before finals. Barring a loss in week 1, no doubt a plus the would be at home til week 3, but on the whole I think it’s a negative to have to make a Melbourne to Qld round trip every 2nd week. They could end up a bit tiring and be left vulnerable in the old grudge game v Manly I reckon.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
You my dear sir would be surprised.
Paul
Roar Guru
I wonder if the bookies in Darwin have got any odds on who will be the first bubble breacher caught? There's certainly plenty of candidates from all Clubs - except my Dragons. :happy:
Cliffo
Roar Rookie
I’m from nsw but I agree, why not mcg even with 50,000
Larry1950
Guest
Sorry Paul but the venue surfaces aren’t an issue since there won’t be any action on them by Qld clubs come September, not like any of our clubs are really finals contenders unfortunately. Sorry state of affairs in the sunshine state from a playing perspective so our main sport from August will be spot the footy bubble breacher. What odds Jimmy the Jet, he knows all the watering holes from his time at the Titans & Broncos.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Makes sense, my only criticism would be why wasn’t SOO 3 played in Melbourne making it a neutral venue. It has drawn sell out crowds in the past.
Paul
Roar Guru
There are two distinct issues here. The first is whether the relocation was a good move and there's only one answer to that. The second is whether the relocation to Qld is the right way to go and only time will tell. It makes sense economically, given the League supporter base, but the grounds and facilities are going to cop a workout, given the talk of double and triple headers. Do that for a month or more and I'd reckon Suncorp and Cbus will be looking pretty ratty.
Dave
Guest
Would anyone seriously say it wasn’t a good idea?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Absolutely the right decision, just annoyed about the Dragons players who broke the bubble protocols and aren't in quarantine, they should not be allowed to join back in.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Of course, no brainer. The only possible change could have been to base some clubs in Victoria or NZ as well.
andrew
Roar Rookie
At least I'll be able to see Saints play at Suncorp or Cbus. See all the teams staying here on the GC will be at the Mercure. The closest entertainment will be the Carrara Markets. Maybe I'll see Tom Burgess out in the water on a 10 ft mal.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
A good move? You bet! With the dimwit momentary multi-millionaire budding alcoholics, rooters, liars, piddlers in public and dedicated rule breakers banged up together at the Mercure on the featureless flood plain, with Jupiters Casino almost within sight and Hollywood Showgirls, it will be a feast. The Gold Coast Bulletin reporters just up the road can put their feet up and simply wait for the sighting texts and tweets to flow in. The cheeky young pups – heh, heh, heh :unhappy: – will mess it up for sure, and make it difficult squared for the serious minded adults who are toiling earnestly to sustain the game and keep them off the dole queues. Already they are whinging about families/no families and room service and baby births and in which corner of their suite they should throw their dirty clothes. Life can be ever so difficult when you are famous and important.
Larry1950
Guest
Wouldn’t get my hopes up for return to ‘normal’ anytime soon, have a look at the soaring case numbers of the delta variant in a highly vaccinated UK with mad Boris sticking to the lifting of all restrictions this week. I recall my brother on his return from an american holiday in february 2020 telling me early on if the virus got into the poorer areas of the USA they’d be in big trouble, how right.