The NBL has postponed four games because of Brisbane’s three-day COVID-19 lockdown as rugby league players and some in the AFL are placed under fresh restrictions.
As the Queensland capital enters its first full day of a lockdown slated to end at 5pm AEDT on Thursday, the NBL sent the Brisbane Bullets on the road for a block of games.
The Bullets will play five games outside of Brisbane until April 23 as the NBL postponed four fixtures scheduled in the next fortnight.
“A number of clubs have had to deal with different things during this season and now unfortunately it’s our turn,” the Bullets’ chief executive Peter McLennan said.
“Whilst it’s not ideal that the team will be playing a large number of away games during this next period, we understand that it needs to be done to ensure the season keeps rolling.”
Meanwhile, the NRL placed restrictions its players and officials.
Rugby league hierarchy are yet to decide if Good Friday’s fixture between Melbourne and Brisbane will be played as scheduled at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
But all NRL players and staffers have been placed under restriction protocols including temperature checks at grounds and training, a ban on using public transport, and the mandatory wearing of masks indoors when they can’t socially distance.
In the AFL, Sydney Swans players were also ordered to abide by stay-at-home protocols in NSW.
The Swans secured an exemption to train after being caught up in the fallout from Brisbane’s coronavirus outbreak.
Sydney defeated Brisbane in Brisbane on March 20 – under NSW Health rules, those in the lockdown area since that day are subject to the same stay-at-home restrictions as Greater Brisbane.
And Gold Coast players and staff are bracing for a stint away from home after arriving in Adelaide on Tuesday.
The Suns were told by the AFL to travel to South Australia ahead of their Friday night fixture against the Crows at Adelaide Oval to avoid getting caught up in any potential border restrictions related to Brisbane’s lockdown.
“If it means we’re here for a period of time, we’re excited by that,” Gold Coast’s football manager Jon Haines said.
“We’re planning for multiple contingencies as we have been for the last six to eight weeks and COVID’s impacted round three of the AFL season and we anticipated at some point that would occur.
“Our focus is on this Friday night and then we’re open-minded to what it looks like after that.
“If it means we have to stay a couple more weeks to play multiple games, we’re open to that.”