BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 04: A general view of the stadium is seen before the round four NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on June 04, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Queensland’s first NRL grand final is hanging by a thread after the state announced six new COVID-19 cases on Thursday morning, with crowds set to be slashed at major stadiums from 4pm today.
While four of the cases are linked, one has appeared in Townsville, while the government are concerned about extra seeding in the community.
The delta outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic has ripped through New South Wales and Victoria, leaving both states in lockdown and forcing the NRL to relocate 13 teams to south east Queensland to complete the season.
The NRL placed Townsville on standby to host the grand final, however, the case in Townsville has thrown those plans into disarray, with the north Queensland region now on the same footing as Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
A return to Stage 2 restrictions will now apply to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island for the next two weeks, meaning crowd capacity will be slashed to 75 per cent.
BREAKING: From 4pm today, restrictions will be tightened in the Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island. #covid19 pic.twitter.com/CiXEr0wsNQ
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 30, 2021
The NRL have previously flagged wanting to play the grand final in front of as many fans as possible while the fact the match was already sold out will throw another spanner in the works, given 25 per cent of the crowd will now not be allowed through the turnstiles on Sunday evening.
If the outbreak worsens, Queensland could take more steps to control the spread of cases, with crowds at sporting venues likely to be high on the list of what will disappear first.
The Queensland government have also confirmed a lockdown will not be dictated by the grand final.
The QLD Premier says the NRL Grand final has had “absolutely no influence” on the state’s covid response. #Covid19Qld @SBSnews
— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) September 30, 2021
There is also no news on how the 25 per cent of fans set to miss out will be selected.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk does NOT have an answer for how 25% of the currently-packed (& paid for) Suncorp Stadium capacity will be cut. She says journalists need to ask stadium’s managers. “It will be disappointing for some people but the health of Qeeenslanders comes first”
— Luke Cooper (@luke__cooper) September 30, 2021
The NRL are yet to make an official comment on Sunday’s crowd, or location.
With Townsville also included in the list of restrictions, only rural Queensland venues could now host the game at 100 per cent capacity, while a shift interstate also appears unlikely.
The Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs are set to clash on Sunday evening, with kick-off at 7:30pm (AEDT) – 6:30pm (AEST).
Source:: ZeroTackle
