Saturday’s NRL Telstra Premiership Matches scheduled to be played in southeast Queensland will be relocated to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney on a risk-based approach to ensuring continuity in the competition.
The relocations are:
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys will be transferred from Sunshine Coast Stadium to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at 5.15pm on Saturday.
- Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders will be transferred from Cbus Super Stadium to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at 7.45pm on Saturday.
- The Titans will relocate to Sydney this afternoon and remain in Sydney until the NRL’s health experts are comfortable the risk of infection on the Gold Coast has subsided. The Cowboys will remain based in Townsville.
Friday night’s match between the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos will proceed as scheduled at AAMI Park in Melbourne after the Victorian Government provided approval for the match to proceed.
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the relocation ensured there was no risk to Premiership games proceeding this weekend.
“Our priority is ensuring all matches proceed this weekend. While the infection rates in southeast 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.
“I want to thank all clubs who are making sacrifices for the greater good of our game. These are difficult decisions to make but decisions that ensure our competition continues this weekend without interruption.”
“I also want to acknowledge our fans. I know fans on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast were looking forward to going to these games. We were particularly excited to be taking a game to the Sunshine Coast. However our priority must be ensuring we can complete Round 4 without risk of losing matches.”
