Gold Coast will be relocated to Sydney while an NRL game on the Sunshine Coast has been shifted as the country’s professional sporting codes contend with Queensland’s ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.
Queensland was given an “encouraging” update on Wednesday, with a further two community transmission cases of the virus before the snap three-day lockdown is potentially lifting on Thursday.
But that hasn’t stopped the NRL ordering the Titans south to join Brisbane, who are already in Sydney in hotel-style isolation and set to fly to Melbourne for their Good Friday clash with the Storm at AAMI Park.
The Titans’ game against Canberra, scheduled for CBus Super Stadium, as well as the Cronulla-North Queensland clash on the Sunshine Coast, will now both be played at Kogarah in a Saturday double-header.
The Titans will remain in Sydney until the NRL’s health experts are comfortable the risk of infection on the Gold Coast has subsided, while the Cowboys will remain based in Townsville.
“Our priority is ensuring all matches proceed this weekend,” NRL boss Andrew Abdo said.
“While the infection rates in south-east Queensland are positive today, the risk of further outbreaks emerging between now and Saturday exists,” he said.
“By confirming the relocation of games today all clubs, players and fans have certainty to plan for the weekend’s fixtures and as a game we eliminate the risk around whether those matches will take place.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Supercars made the decision to delay the Tasmania SuperSprint event by a week after Queensland’s COVID-19 outbreak.
The event, originally scheduled for the weekend of April 10-11 will now be held at Symmons Plains Raceway near Launceston on April 17-18, as Queensland-based teams prepare to exit the state.
Brisbane’s AFL clash with Collingwood has already been switched from the Gabba to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, while the Gold Coast flew to Adelaide on Tuesday – two days earlier than first scheduled – for Friday’s clash with the Crows.
Under NSW health rules, people who have been in the lockdown area since March 20 are now subject to the same stay-at-home restrictions as Greater Brisbane.
Sydney beat the Lions in Brisbane on March 20, flying out the next day, and are therefore among those required to isolate.
The Swans are working to secure AFL training exemptions and, like the NRL’s Broncos achieved on Wednesday, are confident of receiving the green light and flying to Melbourne to face Richmond on Saturday.
Brisbane’s A-League team is due to play Western Sydney Wanderers in Redcliffe on Saturday while the Roar’s W-League side are set for a home final on either Sunday or Monday – neither game is yet to be rescheduled or relocated.
The NBL has postponed four games as a result of the lockdown, while the Australian open and age swimming championships set for the Gold Coast early next month are under threat.