Zero cases: Raiders seek ACT-Queensland travel leniency

With travel between the ACT and Queensland still permitted, the Raiders are set to explore the possibility of being allowed to send their players back and forward over the next month.

Raiders CEO Don Furner said he was shocked when the club was informed on Sunday they'd be part of a 12-team move to Queensland due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.

The ACT hasn't recorded a case since March but the Victorian government's decision to make the national capital a "red zone" added another element to a fluid situation across the game.  

"It was a bit of a shock because I thought we were safe. Canberra is safe. The ACT government and people of Canberra have done a fantastic job in containing any spread," Furner said.

"It shows we're doing a good job as a club and city but unfortunately we got tagged in by the Victorian government as a red zone and that changed everything.

"It is a logistical challenge, especially for those with young kids and school back this week too and all partners working as well.

"The Queensland government have set some restrictions towards relocating the clubs into Queensland and we're going through that with staff now."

However, given the ACT's clean record of cases, Furner said they'll push to see if they'll be allowed any leniency during the next month of the competition.

"We are making those inquiries today," he said.

Furner said the club would take 29 players to Queensland for their month-long trip. The group won't include Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (season-ending neck injury) and Curtis Scott, who remains stood down after an off-field incident more than a month ago.

The remainder of the maximum 41 personnel allowed to travel with be coaching and operational staff.

"That can change with injuries and suspension but 29 [players] should get us through," Furner said.

"This particular arrangement is set down for four weeks and could go for longer. I think 29 will cover us for four weeks unless we run into a very bad state of injuries."

On Scott, who has been stood down since June 7 pending an investigation into an alleged nightclub incident, Furner added the 23-year-old was out of the team's bubble and living in Sydney.

"They've [integrity unit] obviously been flat out with other issues," Furner said.

"We'll wait and see what the NRL comes back with."

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on Monday he was comfortable enough with restricting the figure to 41 this season - a reduction of nine from 2020 - given how many games were left in the season.

"We consulted quite heavily with the clubs in this regard, particularly the coaches," Abdo said.

"Obviously you want to take as many people as possible," Abdo said.

"However, there are some constraints around that, particularly around exemptions around what's feasible in creating a temporary high-performance centre.

"Of course, that's something that can be revisited down the line if we need to.

"If we see an increase in injuries or player suspensions, we can look at ways of transitioning further individuals into the camp, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

The Raiders are yet to find out where in Queensland they'll be situated but it is expected families who join the players during the next month of the competition will undergo a COVID-19 test and 14-days hotel quarantine.

"Those who take their families up there will be relocated either later in the week or early next week," Furner said.

"We're just waiting for those particulars all along."