The National Rugby League will help to create a $500,000 relief fund to assist grassroots clubs affected by the recent floods across New South Wales and Queensland returning to the field.
Working together, the NRL, QRL, NSWRL, NRL clubs and naming rights partner Telstra have joined forces to create the fund and will consider additional fundraising opportunities in the coming weeks.
The NRL has also cancelled tomorrow’s public launch of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership, with NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo saying the game’s funds were better spent assisting grassroots clubs rebuild from the "devastating" floods.
“The scenes across southeast Queensland and northern NSW have been devastating," Mr. Abdo said, "and there could be worse to come with significant rain still to hit Sydney and surrounding areas.
"From a rugby league perspective, many of our grassroots clubs have lost equipment and suffered damage in the flooding,’’ he said.
“We believe the funds allocated for the season launch could be better spent assisting those clubs get back on the field.
"Rugby League clubs are part of the social fabric of our communities, they bring people together, and we want to work together to assist our clubs in returning to the field as soon as possible.
“What I’m most proud of is how our game has banded together in the most challenging of circumstances over the last two years and we are doing that again today. I want thank the QRL, the NSWRL, our clubs and our naming rights partner Telstra who are leading the way in contributing funds to assist our communities.”