The NRL would consider the “unlikely possibility” of postponing the grand final if the Queensland Premier says there can’t be crowds at Suncorp Stadium.
The premiership decider between Penrith and South Sydney is set to be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday night, but the state’s government is desperately trying to get on top of an outbreak of cases that threatens to derail rugby league’s premier event.
On Thursday, the Queensland government announced the crowd capacity for the game had been reduced from 100 per cent to 75 per cent.
But if cases continue to climb in the sunshine state, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hasn’t ruled out banning any spectators from attending the grand final.
“The health of Queenslanders comes first, and as soon as (the Queensland health officer) says we need to move into a lockdown, we will,” she said.
Now the NRL is desperately looking at contingency plans to cover the game in every possible scenario.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys told Nine’s 6pm bulletin postponing the season decider is not off the table.
“It’s not a grand final without a crowd,” V’landys said.
“That’s a possibility – an unlikely one, but a possibility. We have to be ready for every scenario.”
The Queensland government has said it may even make a decision on the NRL grand final going ahead as late as Sunday morning.
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