The NRL’s strict COVID bubble is set to burst on Wednesday with players to be granted their freedom again for the first time in a month.
The majority of players will complete their two-week quarantine stint on Wednesday, after travelling from NSW and the ACT earlier this month.
The NRL had promised they would assess the situation in south-east Queensland then, before making the next call.
That risk has been deemed as minimal, meaning players will now return to the same light level-one protocols that were in place when Sydney was COVID-free this year.
State of Origin players and Melbourne’s squad will have to wait an extra day or two in the NRL bubble after entering the hub later.
“We will be guided by the government but yes we’ll go back to level one,” ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys told AAP.
“We always go back to the threat in the community and there is no infections there.”
Players had been in hard level-four restrictions since the start of the COVID outbreak last month.
The news comes with the NRL certain to extend their stay in Queensland beyond the original four weeks that were scheduled.
The COVID threat in Sydney remains a serious concern, with a sixth straight day of triple-figure cases on Monday.
“We look at the data each day and it’s our view at the moment that it’s certainly not getting better,” V’landys said.
“We are planning various scenarios looking at the data.
“It’s not going to be risk-free in Sydney any time soon.”
Meanwhile the situation in hotel quarantine for players’ partners and families has settled down somewhat, after being forced to gaffer-tape doors shut over the weekend.
Families were left frustrated when their conditions changed to include staying on their floor and shutting and staying off balconies, after arriving last Wednesday.
“I can’t speak on behalf of everyone when it comes to family stuff because when it comes to family stuff that’s not an RLPA thing,” players’ union president Daly Cherry-Evans said.
“I do have three kids and a partner in quarantine at the moment and my advice to them is really simple.
“They just have to understand why they’re doing it.
“They have the opportunity to do two hard weeks of quarantine. But when they get here it’ll be well worth it because again the lifestyle that comes with it.
“I don’t want to underestimate how hard it would be on the families but when you look at what they’re coming from in Sydney.
“I think anyone would jump at the chance to do two weeks of quarantine to come spend time with their family in Queensland.”
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