NRL could return next month following new health orders

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, new government exemptions may have paved the way for the NRL to potentially resume as early as next month.

Health orders signed by New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard has confirmed that the new restrictions do not prevent the conduct of events (such as sporting or racing events).

The newly-formed NRL Innovation Committee met for the first time on Wednesday morning and is working alongside the government in order to create an audacious plan to see the competition return weeks before scheduled.

The plan would potentially see teams split into conferences across different locations in New South Wales, as long as expert medical advice allows it.

The NRL Innovation Committee, led by ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce, is scheduled to meet again next Thursday, to proceed with the plans to restart the season in the coming weeks.

“We want the competition up and running as soon as possible,” Pearce told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“That’s got to factor in player safety, community safety and a range of factors we need to consider. We are saying July 1st, that is fixed in the ground and we are working towards that, but if we can make it happen sooner, we will.”

The current New South Wales rules would allow the competition to resume immediately, but there are many different obstacles that stand in the NRL’s way. The New Zealand Warriors are not currently allowed into Australia, and the Queensland Government has shut its borders, except for work purposes.

However, the NRL and the Innovation Committee are still hopeful that the season will resume before July 1st.