PATIENT QLDERS LEFT IN LIMBO
Clubs waiting for decision on border crossing exemption
THE NRL’s D-Day will arrive tomorrow with Queensland’s clubs sweating on politicians allowing them to remain at home for the newlook 2020 season.
Gold Coast, Brisbane and North Queensland will be left in limbo until the 11th hour ahead of returning to training on Monday in preparation for the May 28 season relaunch.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed yesterday Queensland’s borders would remain closed indefinitely and a National Cabinet meeting tomorrow will decide the teams’ fate.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys hopes Queensland clubs will be granted an exemption to resume training and travel following a “positive” meeting with Palaszczuk on Tuesday.
But Palaszczuk said the Government was seeking more information and would not make a decision until after tomorrow’s meetings.
“I had a very positive meeting yesterday with the NRL,” she said.
“What we have agreed is that their health experts would be speaking with ours and looking through that plan. National Cabinet is meeting Friday to look at principles around how elite sports can operate.
“We’ll be having further discussions Friday afternoon.
“It may be next week (before a decision is made). The key for a lot of these sporting codes is training, so we need to prioritise that.”
The NRL is confident Queensland teams will resume training on Monday at their home facilities and not have to relocate to NSW.
The code is also hopeful that clubs will be allowed to play home games and not have to shift all matches in the new-look 20-round season to NSW.
But the Broncos are ready to pack their bags for a Kingscliff getaway in northern NSW if governments decide to extend restrictions.
“We’ve got two plans in place,” Broncos coach Anthony Seibold said.
“Plan A is that we’re able to train here at Red Hill in Brisbane. Plan B is that we go across the border and have a camp at Kingscliff.
“My understanding was there was really positive talks between the Premier and Peter V’landys.
“We’ll just wait to hear from our Premier and the Government on Friday.
“We’ve got no dramas about that. We’ve got both plans in place and we’re really respectful of the situation and whatever decision is made.”
Queensland’s chief medical officer Dr Jeannette Young said she had to speak to the NRL’s experts before coming to a decision.
“We need to go through it in detail and talk to them about it,” she said.
“There’s also discussions happening at a national level, so it’s important we all work together.”