The NRL is firming to hold Sunday’s grand final in Brisbane as planned after just two new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland on Saturday.
Fears of a postponement or relocation have been mostly allayed a day out from the historic first decider at Suncorp Stadium, as case numbers in the state remain low with no spread in the community.
Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath stopped short of handing out a green light for the decider but gave the best indication yet the South Sydney and Penrith blockbuster will go ahead.
“A day is a long time with COVID-19 but things are looking really positive,” she said on Saturday morning.
“To know that we had five clusters happening, and the reality is we have not seen any community transmission beyond the actual workplace and household contacts, is great news.
“But it’s reliant on people coming forward and getting tested so we can see if there is any transmission happening out there and we can get on top of it very quickly.
“But standing here today with beautiful clear skies … it’s going to be a glorious long weekend and if people keep coming to get tested and vaccinated we’re very hopeful we’ll have a great weekend.”
So far, Queensland has avoided a lockdown after cases of community transmission popped up in the state on Tuesday.
Bird’s eye view of Suncorp Stadium
It has thrown the NRL’s planning for Sunday’s event into chaos with contingency plans varying from relocation to Townsville to a postponement of the game for at least a week if crowds were banned.
Western Australia also reportedly put in a bid to host the decider if a postponement was forced due to a lockdown in Queensland.
However, it’s understood the game will stay in the sunshine state.
The NRL had been hoping the outbreak stayed contained and Saturday’s low case numbers will be a sigh of relief for the league after an anxious wait that will continue for one more day.
The Queensland government has said they will not give the go-ahead for the game to be played with 75 per cent crowds as planned until Sunday morning, pending case numbers.
Crowd numbers have already been cut from 52,000 to 39,000 at 75 per cent capacity. That could be dropped even further should the outbreak get out of control over the next 24 hours.
Murray Fosts
Guest
It$ all for the greater good Tom
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
0 cases today. There's been what, 10 cases? 10 cases have caused me to have my tickets cancelled ????
Murray Fosts
Guest
One on every corner, nothing to $ee here.
JGK
Roar Guru
I think they are doing the right thing so as not to discourage people from getting vaccinated (unlike in NSW where they said they were opening up on 1 December regardless). But practically, once they hit 80% they will open up. Whether that's with 10 cases a day or 1500 isn't really relevant.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
JGK, that's not what the Premier and her CHO are saying.
Nat
Roar Guru
It is and a vax clinic at the stadium
JGK
Roar Guru
Hardly - SE Qld is going to open in a month or two anyway once vaccination levels are above 80%.
JGK
Roar Guru
I think they are going to set up a pop up vaccination clinic outside the ground.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Probably none.
Spot on
Guest
The NRL GF will go down in history as the superspreader that did in SE Qld. What if you are not into RL? You have to pay a pretty dear price.
Tigertown
Guest
Out of 40,000 odd spectators, how many will bring COVID into the stadium? Surely the government would set up rapid testing outside.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
One of the other concerns is both QRL preliminary finals are scheduled to be played before grand final so if they moved grand final what happens to those 2 matches . Play it with or without crowds and let's get the season wrapped up .
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
If South's win, Queenslanders should take the day off to celebrate St Benito's Day, in honour of the great old master.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Good to see the NRL go ahead. Fortuitously Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has stopped short of enforcing comrade Dan’s mandate to drink beer through our masks and don’t dare sit and watch the sunset over Suncorp on Sunday evening. Better still, the crowd (those lucky few) should adhere to the sound medical advice of South Australia’s CMO of banning the crowd catching the footy.
Carl
Guest
I think on Monday morning (Queen's Birthday Holiday in QLD) The Premier will "Snap Lock Down!"