Nine reports that NRL officials took the Clive Churchill Medal off Penrith’s Nathan Cleary minutes after he was presented with the medal after the Panthers’ victory at the Grand Final, because it was incorrectly engraved with the match being played at Stadium Australia in Sydney - when in fact it was moved to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. The officials promised to Cleary they would fix the problem and return the medal to him, but nearly a month later Cleary still hadn’t seen the medal.
Although with clubs basically going full time and adding second tier men’s and first and second tier women’s programs, oval access is basically limited at best trying to fit in the needs of up to 4 teams in a 12 month cycle (e.g. if the men’s teams are knocked out in September, by October the top tier women’s team starts their pre-season). Hence the building of many indoor facilities.
I will reply with, Cronulla were the first team to sell naming rights to their ground, starting with Ronson Field back in the mid 1980s, naturally because of their dire financial situation at the time. Now most clubs are doing this.
Full draw to go up later today, but Round 1 and Origin appears to be locked in
ROUND 1
THURS: Penrith vs Manly (Penrith)
FRI: Warriors vs St.George/Illawarra (5PM Local KO, Sunshine Coast), Brisbane vs South Sydney (7:05 PM Local KO, Lang Park)
SAT: Canberra vs Cronulla (Canberra), Roosters vs Newcastle (SCG), Tigers vs Melbourne (Parramatta)
SUN: Parramatta vs Gold Coast (Parramatta), Cowboys vs Canterbury (Townsville, 5:25PM Local KO)
ORIGIN
GAME 1: Olympic Stadium Sydney 8 JUNE
GAME 2: Perth Stadium, 26 JUNE (pending borders being re-open, the border issue is why the AFL/AFLW draw isn’t out yet)
GAME 3: Lang Park Brisbane, 13 JULY
Whilst I’ve gone through the FTA content in the NRL on Nine thread, I believe this year is the first time an NRL game for points has been played in Bundaberg at the Salter Oval (August 7, Canterbury vs North Queensland). Many of the usual rural venues get a run too (Rockhampton misses out because the ground is being redeveloped) with games in Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Darwin, Mackay and Mudgee on top of Bundaberg, plus a Warriors home game on the Sunshine Coast before they return home mid season.
Today’s announcement of COVID guidelines for Queensland means that no unvaccinated NRL player will be able to enter a large number of venues. The Broncos announced today they are 100% COVID compliant - every player has had at least one shot.
Once Queensland reaches 80 per cent double-vaccination, predicted to be December 17, a range of restrictions will be introduced. Unvaccinated people will not be allowed to enter hospitality venues, stadiums or festivals.
That means any unvaccinated athletes will be banned from playing at the likes of Suncorp Stadium, the Gabba and Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
However
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the league was expecting the Queensland Government’s decision, which will be reviewed if the state hits 90 per cent fully vaccinated next year.
Melbourne later confirmed Brandon Smith would leave at the club at the end of 2022 season, with CEO Justin Rodski saying the Storm were “deeply offended” by the NZ test player’s controversial podcast comments.