The NRL and the West Australian Government are reportedly in discussions about COVID restrictions for this year’s State of Origin game II in Perth on June 26.
According to SEN’s Michelle Bishop, the state Government is set to impose significant restrictions on players that aren’t triple-vaccinated, including not being able to travel on the team bus to training or games.
“The NRL has opened talks with the West Australian Government for some clarity in and around (COVID) restrictions,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“They could stop players leaving their hotel rooms for this year’s Origin series in Perth, which of course is the second game, June 26 - the series opener is on Sydney on June 8 and of course the final one is in Brisbane on July 13.
“It remains a condition of entry into WA for all visitors, they must be triple vaxxed, the Government is going to grant some exemptions to professional athletes who’ve only had two doses, but with that comes restrictions.
“As I said, that means you could be locked up in your hotel room. They will be allowed to go to training, but they won’t be allowed on the team bus, they’ll have to get a private car.
“This is absolutely the rules, they’ve opened discussions purely around restrictions at the moment and what it is.”
In response to those regulations, Penrith board member Greg Alexander says the league should simply shift Origin II to Sydney as Queensland had their fair share of fixtures in 2021.
“Why don’t they open discussions with Mark McGowan and say, ‘You can jam your State of Origin game, we’ll take it away from you’,” Alexander said.
“Seriously, let’s play two games in Sydney, there was three games in Queensland last year – just in case you forgot that.
“Why don’t we get two games in New South Wales? If you have to sit in your hotel room and catch a car to training … that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard.
“I’d say, ‘Sorry, you’re out mate, Perth is no longer on the table, we’re back in New South Wales’.”
Origin was last played at a neutral venue in 2020 when Adelaide Oval hosted Game I.
Perth last hosted an Origin fixture in 2019 when the Blues won 38-6 in Game II at Optus Stadium.