Signs good for the Warriors
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the federal government is open to granting the Warriors an exemption to arrive in Australia to participate in the resumption of the NRL competition.
One month after suspending its season because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NRL on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to get back on the field on May 28.
Among the challenges facing officials are the New Zealandbased Warriors, who will need an exemption from the Australian Border Force to arrive in the country.
Morrison has been in dialogue with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about relaxing travelling restrictions for those across the Tasman.
‘‘Now if there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that’s New Zealand,’’ Morrison said yesterday.
‘‘We have similar trajectories.
Scott Morrison
‘‘Their restrictions have been far greater.
‘‘Our [coronavirus] case response has been the same, if not better, than New Zealand.’’
Morrison pointed out that the Border Force commissioner has already granted exemptions for some travellers enter country.
The Warriors likely to next.
‘‘That is an area that I think we can look potentially favourably on, provided all the other arrangements are in place regarding public safety,’’ Morrison said.
Earlier yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he was planning on talking with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys to discuss the league’s resumption.
New Zealand is in alert level four lockdown but will move to level three on Tuesday, though contact sports will not be allowed during that phase.
Dutton described the country international
to the
are be as low risk, however, any visitors would be forced into a mandatory two-week isolation period.
‘‘The Warriors would come into NSW or wherever it was, Queensland, they would have to go through the two weeks isolation as would be the case for anybody,’’ Dutton said.
Morrison said that, given the likelihood of all NRL games being played in NSW, the state government would have the final say on the competition’s return.
The NRL is investigating whether the Warriors will be permitted to train together while in isolation, possibly in Lennox Head on the NSW far north coast.
Travel restrictions could force them to relocate to Australia for months.
The club has yet to sign off on the move, demanding answers from the league on the length of the season and how much players would be remunerated.
V’landys continues to hold talks with the NRL’s broadcasters over the details of the restructured season and, significantly, how much income that will generate.
All 16 teams have been told to prepare for a resumption in training on May 4 with stringent health protocols expected to be outlined to clubs today.
‘‘Now if there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that’s New Zealand.’’