Updated: The NRL grand final is on track to be played at Suncorp Stadium after another encouraging day of COVID-19 numbers in Queensland.
Just two new locally acquired cases were detected in the Sunshine State overnight after a small outbreak sparked fear about the decider going ahead at Suncorp.
The two new cases are the children of a confirmed COVID-19 case.
ARL Commission Chairman Peter V’landys confirmed the NRL is anticipating the next 24 hours to run smoothly without any interruptions to tomorrow’s fixture.
“(It’s) full steam ahead for tomorrow night,” V’landys told 2GB’s The Continuous Call Team.
“At this stage, it’s all good. The COVID-19 cases were in quarantine – there are no cases that they’re not being able to track.
“If that continues tomorrow, so it’ll be a restless night for me and the NRL team, it’ll be all go tomorrow.”
Should a Brisbane lockdown impact tomorrow’s fixture, V’landys flagged Townsville as a likely contingency plan.
“If there’s a lockdown, we’ll have to consider postponing the match and moving it to Townsville,” he added.
“We won’t do that unilaterally, we’ll certainly speak to the two coaches, the two clubs, and get their viewpoints and make a decision.
“I’m hoping that doesn’t occur and that there’ll be no cases that they can’t track and we’re full steam ahead tomorrow night.”
Fears of a full-scale lockdown in Brisbane led to the NSW government looking to reclaim the grand final on the later date of October 17.
Coaches and players were asked about their thoughts about the game being potentially postponed last night.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said the players will play wherever, whenever.
“Everything has its own challenges but I’m sure players are ready to play,” Bennett said.
“They’ll play tomorrow, next week, week after, they’ll play. We can’t control it.
“There’s no conversation about it, we’re not talking about it.
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“In the history of the game, it’s always played in Sydney and personally I’d prefer the history of the game. It wasn’t possible, so we’re here and we’ll make the most of it.”
Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath said a day was a “long time in COVID”, however, barring a huge jump in cases tonight, the match is all but certain to be played in front of a 75 per cent capacity at Suncorp Stadium(39,000 fans).
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– additional reporting with Marc Churches