Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is confident biosecurity measures put in place to protect players, staff and community will ensure a safe return of the NRL competition on May 28 in the face of COVID-19.
Strict self-isolation measures – including locking down part of the Clive Berghofer Centre – temperature checks and daily individual health checks will all be in place for Broncos players and stay once training return from the start of May.
"I was part of a meeting with all the head coaches and the biosecurity protocols we put in place will make the training environment the safest possible environment the players and staff can be in," said Seibold.
"It's important the players and all of us in the industry need the game back up and running to get blood back in our veins. The players and staff have done a tremendous job so far and we need to continue doing what we have done so far.
The curve is slowing down in the community which is great so we just need to be smart about this like everyone else.
Anthony Seibold
"There will be forehead temperature checks on arrival to our facility every single day. There will also be a daily coronavirus questionnaire which will be done on our phones, so the players and staff will have to fill that in every morning upon entering the building.
"People across the board are getting the message and I'm really confident in the biosecurity measures put in place that they will protect our players and staff and we just need to listen to the government guidelines."
Broncos CEO Paul White said the club would continue to work closely with the Queensland Government on issues surrounding a return to rugby league.
Over the weekend, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said health advice “at the moment” meant Queensland NRL teams returning home from games interstate would need to go into a fortnight of self-isolation.
"I would love to see the footy back. I would love it just like anyone else,” said Palaszczuk.
"But we have to have the clear health advice, and there is no clear health advice at the moment that is telling me the NRL can start and no other sport can.''
But NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said that government fully supported the return of the NRL, and that he would also be offering to personally assist ARLC chairman Peter V’landys with issues like the Quensland border situation.
“I’ve been talking with a lot of people this past week and it’s clear that as the infections decrease, we start looking to where you lift restrictions with economic uplift, social uplift and mental wellbeing uplift,” said Mr Barilaro.
“Where can you do that and minimise health risk? That’s what we will do with health experts for every industry.
“And when it comes to rugby league, the economic uplift will be significant. Just as the social and wellbeing uplift will be significant.
“There’s a real case there of looking at risk versus all those other opportunities and saying ‘yes, rugby league should be one of the first industries that should get the go ahead’.”
White said: “Having May 28 as a target for a restart to the competition provides real hope for everyone at the club and throughout the wider rugby league community.
“There is still a lot of work to be done across all levels of the game to see us get back on the field by the end of next month, and player and community safety must remain as an absolute priority during that process.
“We are confident that all those involved – the NRL, clubs, broadcasters, government – can work together to make it happen.
“Being able to play at Suncorp Stadium and train at the Clive Berghofer Centre in tightly controlled and monitored conditions will ensure our players and staff have the safest-possible environment to prepare and play rugby league.
“The Queensland Government has been excellent in supporting our game and our club during this difficult time for the entire community, and we look forward continuing our work with them in mapping a way forward.”
