Warriors cleared to cross the Tasman

The Warriors look set to train in isolation for two weeks in New South Wales after being granted federal government exemption to travel to Australia to play out the rest of the 2020 NRL season.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys told AAP last night the Australian Border Force will allow the Warriors to fly in and they could touch down across the Tasman as early as Sunday.

The league will now meet with the NSW state government today to gain approval for the Warriors to selfquarantine in central NSW.

If the request is rejected, the Warriors would reportedly have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days, which could delay the competition's reboot by a fortnight.

“That's the next step of the puzzle,” V'landys told AAP.

“The border security have given us an exemption for them to come in, and we couldn't go to the state government until we had that approval.

“We've now gone to the state government to get the approval for them to train while they're in quarantine because it's no risk to the community.”

It means the NRL has moved one step closer to ensuring its May 28 restart will see all 16 teams included.

And given the Warriors already set a precedent for such a move last month, V'Landys is confident the request should be approved.

“They had five players come over to replace the players that went back to New Zealand on compassionate grounds, and they were allowed to stay in a facility and train similarly with what we wish to do now,” V'Landys said.

The NRL expects a definitive answer before tomorrow.

NRL players and staff will be subject to environment checks as well as a number of strict protocols laid out in an extensive biosecurity document sent to clubs on Sunday night.

The 48-page draft document outlined a list of health and safety measures for clubs to abide by to return to training on May 4.

As the NRL charges towards a May 28 restart, clubs will be required to register a maximum of 50 players and staff to gain access to training and games — all of whom will need to have their environments approved.