The ACT is shaping as a potential option for NRL games as both the AFL and NRL have postponed matches as southeast Queensland prepares to enter a snap three-day COVID lockdown.
Saturday’s AFL games between Gold Coast and Melbourne and Essendon’s clash with Sydney at the Gabba have been deferred, along with Sunday’s game between GWS and Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.
The NRL has postponed all three of its Saturday matches, starting with St George Illawarra’s clash with South Sydney in Rockhampton.
The double-header at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, where Canberra were to have met Newcastle and Penrith to play Melbourne, was also called off.
“The NRL is continuing discussions with the Queensland Government to possibly play matches tomorrow,” the league said in a statement.
But their hopes of keeping round 20 alive look slim with Queensland chief health officer Jeanette Young adamant there would be no sporting events in the 11 affected local government areas during the period of the lockdown.
Young also claimed players who had been in the Brisbane area on Saturday morning would not be allowed to feature in games outside of the locked-down area.
“No community sport, no professional sport, nothing for the next three days,” Young said.
AFL clubs are fleeing Queensland, with GWS and Essendon scheduled to fly to Melbourne on Saturday afternoon and Sydney and Gold Coast set to follow suit.
Melbourne flew to Queensland on Saturday morning – the lockdown announcement coming as they were in the air – ahead of their planned clash with Gold Coast.
The Demons instead landed at Brisbane Airport and planned to fly straight back to Victoria.
Sunday’s AFL clash between Hawthorn and Brisbane in Launceston will go ahead as scheduled with the Lions having flown out of Queensland on Saturday ahead of the lockdown.
Responding to the lockdown, the NRL has placed all 16 clubs on level-four biosecurity protocols with players to return to team hotels and stay there until further notice.
Options include moving matches to Townsville and other regional areas, provided the teams have not been based in the Brisbane hub.
Matches could also be moved interstate if their borders are open to Queensland, with the ACT shaping as a potential option.
The Super Netball competition, relocated entirely to southeast Queensland for its remaining rounds, is also facing issues with three games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday that will have to be rescheduled.
AAP
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