NRL backs Suncorp for finale amid outbreak

NRL football boss Graham Annesley remains confident the premiership decider between Penrith and Souths will go ahead in Brisbane, despite the concerning number of Covid-19 cases detected in Queensland on Tuesday.

Annesley was at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday morning to announce the grand final match officials and said there had been no change to plans because of the Covid situation.

“The Premier said this morning there is absolutely no change to plans for Sunday,” Annesley said.

“We’ve got a sell-out. We’re absolutely looking forward to a full house in this fantastic stadium and nothing has changed in our point of view, so it’s full steam ahead for Sunday. We’re absolutely confident that will be the case.”

Earlier on Tuesday, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys placed Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on standby if the fresh Covid outbreak in Brisbane forced the decider to be moved.

V’landys said he was “hoping and praying” the Queensland

government did not issue a snap lockdown order to Brisbane residents.

“I’d say (to ticket-holders), stay calm and look forward to a great day on Sunday,” he said. “We’re confident that the government will get on top of this latest outbreak and the game will go ahead.”

Annesley said the game was well prepared to deal with any hurdles it might face in the coming days.

“One thing our players have shown is that they’re very adaptable,” he said.

“We’ve shown right throughout this (year) that we have to be flexible. We need to be prepared for any eventuality and we are.

“But we’re not considering anything actively, other than the game being played at Suncorp.”

But the match would be shifted to Townsville should a major Covid outbreak throw a spanner in the works, as was the case earlier this season when the State of Origin opener was moved to the $293m Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“We are talking to the government,” V’landys said.

“The grand final won’t stay at Suncorp if there is a lockdown, but at this stage there isn’t one, so we have to hope and pray there isn’t.”

Asked what would happen if the Queensland government didn’t allow the NRL grand final to be played at Suncorp, V’landys said: “Townsville is Plan B.”

The NRL has a week of activities planned for the city and the prospect of the grand final being moved at such late notice would be a disaster for the code and Suncorp bosses, who have lobbied for years to bring the decider to Queensland.